title: Lower extremity alignment and risk of overuse injuries in runners.
abstract: A group of 304 runners enrolling in a marathon training program had alignment measurements performed and completed a questionnaire on training practices and injuries over the previous 12 months. The alignment measures consisted of arch index (AI), heel valgus (HV), knee tubercle-sulcus angle (TSA), knee varus (KV), and leg-length difference (LLD). Results indicated few consistent statistical associations between these alignment measures and risk of injuries, either bivariately or multivariately: left AI with hamstring injuries; right AI with shin injuries; right HV with back injuries; left TSA with ankle injuries; KV with hip injuries; and LLD with back, ankle, and foot injuries. A few statistically significant relationships were also found between other training and anthropometric factors and injuries: mileage with hamstring injuries; interval training with shin injuries; hard surfaces with back and thigh injuries; shoe use patterns with foot and overall injuries; and body mass index with heel injuries. We conclude that lower-extremity alignment is not a major risk factor for running injuries in our relatively low mileage cohort; however, prospective studies are necessary to confirm or refute these findings.
authors.affiliation: Division of Family Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA. dwen@fcm.missouri.edu
authors.forename: D Y
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Wen
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Puffer
authors.forename: T P
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Schmalzried
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000886:Anthropometry; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D015331:Cohort Studies; D012090:Cumulative Trauma Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010809:Physical Fitness; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012420:Running / Q000293:injuries*; D012775:Shoes; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires