Course and predicting factors of lower-extremity injuries after running a marathon.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate in recreational runners the 3 month prognosis of and medical consumption caused by running injuries occurring shortly before or during a marathon. Possible prognostic factors for persistent complaints were also evaluated.


METHODS
Prospective cohort study.


METHODS
Rotterdam, the Netherlands.


METHODS
One hundred sixty-five recreational marathon runners who reported a new running injury in the month before or during the Rotterdam Marathon 2005 and who were available for follow-up. ASSESSMENT OF DETERMINANTS: Demographic, running (training distance, frequency and duration, experience, etc), lifestyle (other sports, smoking), and injury-related factors were collected at baseline.


METHODS
Persistent complaints of running injuries occurring in the month before or during the Rotterdam marathon at 3 month follow-up. Potential prognostic factors for persistent complaints were analyzed by multivariate logistic regression.


RESULTS
At 3 month follow-up, 25.5% of the 165 injured runners reported persistent complaints; they had little pain during exercise and almost no pain in rest. Of all 165 male runners, 27 (16.4%) visited a general practitioner because of their running injury and 40 (24.2%) visited a physiotherapist (218 times in total). Persistent complaints at 3 month follow-up were associated with non-musculoskeletal comorbidities [odds ratio (OR), 3.23; confidence interval (CI), 1.24-8.43], and calf injuries (OR, 0.37; CI, 0.13-1.05).


CONCLUSIONS
One quarter of the runners had persistent complaints of their marathon-related running injury at 3 month follow-up. However, the clinical and social consequences of the injuries seem to be relatively mild. Non-musculoskeletal comorbidities at baseline are related to poor recovery, whereas recovery is also location specific.
van Middelkoop
Marienke
M
Department of General Practice, Erasmus Medical Centre, 3000 CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands. m.vanmiddelkoop@erasmusmc.nl
Kolkman
Jelle
J
van Ochten
John
J
Bierma-Zeinstra
Sita M A
SM
Koes
Bart W
BW
D000328:Adult; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D002908:Chronic Disease; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007869:Leg Injuries / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology*; D059408:Pain Management; D010807:Physical Endurance; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012420:Running; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires