TY - JOUR
T1 - Prevalence and burden of health problems in competitive adolescent distance runners
T2 - A 6-month prospective cohort study
AU - Mann, Robert
AU - Clarsen, Ben
AU - McKay, Carly
AU - Clift, Bryan
AU - Williams, Craig
AU - Barker, Alan
N1 - Funding Information:
Robert H Mann is supported by an Economic and Social Research Council PhD studentship [ES/J50015X/1], as part of the South West Doctoral Training Partnership. This research is in collaboration with England Athletics. The authors acknowledge the athletics clubs, coaches, and athletes who made this research possible. Daniel Razey is acknowledged for supporting with participant recruitment.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
PY - 2021
Y1 - 2021
N2 - 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.
AB - 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.
KW - Athlete health protection
KW - athletics
KW - epidemiology
KW - illness
KW - injury prevention
KW - performance
KW - prospective study
KW - track and field
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85100001840&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/02640414.2021.1874160
DO - 10.1080/02640414.2021.1874160
M3 - Article
VL - 39
SP - 1366
EP - 1375
JO - Journal of Sports Sciences
JF - Journal of Sports Sciences
SN - 0264-0414
IS - 12
ER -