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. 2023 Oct 4;18(10):e0292369.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0292369. eCollection 2023.

The Running Injury Continuum: A qualitative examination of recreational runners' description and management of injury

Aisling Lacey  1   2 , Enda Whyte  1   3 , Sinéad O'Keeffe  1   3 , Siobhán O'Connor  1   3 , Aoife Burke  1   3 , Kieran Moran  1   2   3
Affiliations

The Running Injury Continuum: A qualitative examination of recreational runners' description and management of injury

Aisling Lacey et al. PLoS One. .

Abstract

Introduction: A critical step in understanding and preventing running-related injuries (RRIs) is appropriately defining RRIs. Current definitions of RRIs may not represent the full process of injury development, failing to capture lower levels of injury that many athletes continue to train through. Understanding runners' description and management of the injury development process may allow for a more appropriate examination of all levels of injury. This study aimed to examine recreational runners' description and management of the injury development process.

Methods: A qualitative focus group study was undertaken. Seven semi-structured focus groups with male (n = 13) and female (n = 18) recreational runners took place. Focus groups were audio and video recorded, and transcribed verbatim. Transcripts were reflexively thematically analysed. A critical friend approach was taken to data coding. Multiple methods of trustworthiness were executed.

Results: Runners describe injury on a nine-level continuum, ranging from injury-free to career-ending injury. There are lower and higher levels of injury. Each level of injury is described across four categories of descriptors; physical description, outcome (effect on running and daily life), psychological description, and management.

Conclusion: The Running Injury Continuum is a tool that can be used for injury surveillance (for healthcare professionals and researchers) and for research investigating RRI risk factors. Healthcare professionals, researchers and coaches must ensure they monitor the development of all levels of RRIs, across all categories of descriptors. Runners need to be educated regarding appropriate self-management strategies for lower level injuries, with access to evidence-based information being a critical management tool.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1. The Running Injury Continuum.
Description and management of each level of the Running Injury Continuum. DOMS: Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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