Prevalence and burden of health problems in competitive adolescent distance runners: A 6-month prospective cohort study

Robert H Mann,Benjamin M Clarsen,Carly D Mckay,Bryan C Clift,Craig A Williams,Alan R Barker

doi:10.1080/02640414.2021.1874160

Abstract

ABSTRACT To describe all health problems (injuries and illnesses) in relation to type, location, incidence, prevalence, time loss, severity, and burden, in competitive adolescent distance runners in England. Prospective observational study: 136 competitive adolescent distance runners (73 female athletes) self-reported all health problems for 24-weeks between May and October 2019. Athletes self-reported health problems using the Oslo Sports Trauma Research Centre Questionnaire on Health Problems. The incidence of running-related injury per 1,000 hours of exposure was markedly higher, compared to previous research. At any time, 24% [95% Confidence Intervals (CI): 21–26%] of athletes reported a health problem, with 11% [95% CI: 9–12%] having experienced a health problem that had substantial negative impact on training and performance. Female athletes reported noticeably more illnesses, compared to male athletes, including higher prevalence, incidence, time loss, and severity. The most burdensome health problems, irrespective of sex, included lower leg, knee, and foot/toes injuries, alongside upper respiratory illnesses. The mean weekly prevalence of time loss was relatively low, regardless of health problem type or sex. Competitive adolescent distance runners are likely to be training and competing whilst concurrently experiencing health problems. These findings will support the development of injury and illness prevention measures.

Highlights

Distance running is one of the most popular sports among children and adolescents around the world.[1]
To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to record all injuries and illnesses, including those that did not result in time loss and/or medical attention, exclusively in a population of competitive adolescent distance runners
Per 1,000 hours of exposure was markedly higher when compared to previous research; 2) at any time, 24% of athletes reported a health problem, with 11% having experienced a health problem that had substantial negative impact on training and performance; 3) female athletes reported noticeably more illnesses compared with male athletes, including higher prevalence, incidence, time loss, and severity; 4) the most burdensome health problems, regardless of sex, included lower leg, knee, and foot/toes injuries, alongside upper respiratory illnesses; and 5)

Summary

Introduction

Distance running is one of the most popular sports among children and adolescents around the world.[1] In England, distance running has been reported to be the second most prevalent sport among adolescents.[2] distance running is associated with multiple health benefits in later life,[3] adult-based research indicates that participation is associated with negative health outcomes, such as injury.[4] In adolescent distance runners, there is a lack of research that has investigated such outcomes.[5] This population is often included as a sub-group within larger multi-sport samples of adolescent athletes,[6,7,8,9,10,11] whereby sex differences have been investigated within a heterogenous population rather than at sport-specific levels.[6 7 9 10] Regardless, in those studies that include adolescent distance runners, the reported running-related injury (RRI)

Objectives

Results

Conclusion