CHARACTERISTICS OF TRAINING AND ASSOCIATION WITH INJURIES IN RECREATIONAL ROAD RUNNERS

ABSTRACT Introduction: Road running has been increasing dramatically in Brazil and worldwide for years. However, research into this practice has privileged high performance athletes while neglecting recreational runners, even though they constitute a significant majority of participants. Objectives: This study analyzed the associations between demographic and training characteristics of recreational runners in 5 km, 10 km and half marathon events, and the occurrence of musculoskeletal injuries. Methods: The study used data from 395 adult runners (229 men and 166 women, respectively aged 37.9 ± 9.5 and 37.1 ± 8.7 years, body weight 77 ± 10.5 and 61 ± 9 kg, and height 1.75 ± 0.07 m and 1.62 ± 0.07 m), who voluntarily and anonymously answered a questionnaire available on the Internet. Results: Plantar fasciitis, chondromalacia patellae (runner's knee) and tibial periostitis were the most frequently mentioned injuries in both sexes. Predisposing factors for injury (longer running time, average weekly mileage, maximum mileage and average speed in a workout) predominated in the male group, which had more types of injury and longer layoffs for this reason. Most respondents (63.3% men and 60.2% women) did not perform isolated stretching exercises; in those who did perform these exercises, and in those who stretched before and/or after training for races or competitions, there was no reduction in the incidence of injuries. Conclusion: Men showed a tendency towards greater intensity and volume of race training, in addition to longer running time, which are predisposing factors for injury. This may explain the greater number of different injuries reported in the male group, as well as the longer layoff periods. Level of evidence II; Prognostic studies - Investigating the effect of patient characteristics on disease outcome.