The Prevalence of Low Back Pain in Recreational Distance Runners

Abstract

Running is a popular recreational activity in the United States involving approximately thirty million people. It has gained popularity partly due to its perceived health benefits. The incidence of all injuries in runners has been estimated at 37%–56% with injuries to the spine being between 5%–19%. The lifetime prevalence of low back pain in the general population has been estimated between 60%–90%. PURPOSE: To assess the prevalence of low back pain(LBP) in recreational distance runners and the relationships between running and worsening or improving of LBP symptoms, speed of running, mileage, and orthotic use. METHODS: This study was designed as an observational study comprising 99 subjects, including 45 males and 54 females with ages ranging from 17 to 72 years of age, participating in community, recreational running events. Data was collected via a questionnaire approved by the University of Colorado institutional review board. RESULTS: The lifetime prevalence of LBP in runners was 58% of those surveyed. Among those runners with a history of LBP, 30% reported that running activities worsened their LBP symptoms. Twenty-six percent of the subjects reported improvement of their symptoms with running activities. Thirty percent of subjects reported that running had no effect on their LBP. Gender, age, speed, mileage, and orthotic use were not significant predictors of improving/worsening of LBP when running. However, mileage per week (p=0.04) and orthotic use (p=0.01) were found to be predictors of persistent LBP. CONCLUSIONS:The lifetime prevalence of LBP in recreational distance runners is found to be 58% of those surveyed. Running does not appear to worsen LBP in a population of runners with a history of LBP. Conversely, running does not have a beneficial effect on LBP symptoms. Mileage per week greater than 20 miles results in a five times greater odds of persistent LBP and not using orthotics results in a ten times greater odds of persistent LBP.