RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Trail running injury risk factors: a living systematic review
JF British Journal of Sports Medicine
JO Br J Sports Med
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and British Association of Sport and Exercise Medicine
SP bjsports-2021-104858
DO 10.1136/bjsports-2021-104858
A1 Carel Viljoen
A1 Dina C (Christa) Janse van Rensburg
A1 Willem van Mechelen
A1 Evert Verhagen
A1 Bruno Silva
A1 Volker Scheer
A1 Manuela Besomi
A1 Rubén Gajardo-Burgos
A1 Sérgio Matos
A1 Marlene Schoeman
A1 Audrey Jansen van Rensburg
A1 Nicol van Dyk
A1 Susan Scheepers
A1 Tanita Botha
YR 2022
UL http://bjsm.bmj.com/content/early/2022/01/11/bjsports-2021-104858.abstract
AB Objective To review and frequently update the available evidence on injury risk factors and epidemiology of injury in trail running.Design Living systematic review. Updated searches will be done every 6 months for a minimum period of 5 years.Data sources Eight electronic databases were searched from inception to 18 March 2021.Eligibility criteria Studies that investigated injury risk factors and/or reported the epidemiology of injury in trail running.Results Nineteen eligible studies were included, of which 10 studies investigated injury risk factors among 2 785 participants. Significant intrinsic factors associated with injury are: more running experience, level A runner and higher total propensity to sports accident questionnaire (PAD-22) score. Previous history of cramping and postrace biomarkers of muscle damage is associated with cramping. Younger age and low skin phototypes are associated with sunburn. Significant extrinsic factors associated with injury are neglecting warm-up, no specialised running plan, training on asphalt, double training sessions per day and physical labour occupations. A slower race finishing time is associated with cramping, while more than 3 hours of training per day, shade as the primary mode of sun protection and being single are associated with sunburn. An injury incidence range 0.7–61.2 injuries/1000 hours of running and prevalence range 1.3% to 90% were reported. The lower limb was the most reported region of injury, specifically involving blisters of the foot/toe.Conclusion Limited studies investigated injury risk factors in trail running. Our review found eight intrinsic and nine extrinsic injury risk factors. This review highlighted areas for future research that may aid in designing injury risk management strategies for safer trail running participation.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42021240832.