Marathon running: comparison of physical and psychosocial risks for men and women

Abstract

Physical and psychosocial risks of running and addiction were compared in a sample of female (n = 112) and male (n = 108) marathon runners. While female runners reported more pain in the knee, shin, hip, and heel, and more stress fractures, than the men, no injuries were significantly higher in women. Over 40% of both male and female subjects reported knee injury, making it the most common running injury reported. There were no significant differences in level of self esteem, anxiety, or running addiction between the two groups. There was, however, a significant relationship between level of negative addiction scores and two injuries: torn ligaments X2 (2,202) = 8.45, p less than .02, and hematuria X2 (2,202) = 11.31, p less than .005.