title: Foot type and overuse injury in triathletes.
abstract: Abnormal foot morphology has been suggested to contribute to overuse injuries in athletes. This study investigated the relationship between foot type and injury incidence in a large sample of competitive triathletes not wearing foot orthoses during a 6-month retrospective analysis and a 10-week prospective cohort study. Foot alignment was measured using the Foot Posture Index and the Valgus Index, and participants were assigned to supinated, pronated, and normal foot-type groups. Overall, 131 triathletes sustained 155 injuries during the study. Generally, foot type was not a major risk factor for injury; however, there was a fourfold increased risk of overuse injury during the competition season in athletes with a supinated foot type. The results of this study show that triathletes with a supinated foot type are more likely to sustain an overuse injury.
authors.affiliation: School of Exercise and Health Sciences, University of Western Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Joshua
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Burns
authors.forename: Anne-Maree
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Keenan
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Redmond
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012090:Cumulative Trauma Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D005528:Foot / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011403:Pronation; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013484:Supination