title: Running injuries in novice runners enrolled in different training interventions: a pilot randomized controlled trial.
abstract: The purpose of this trial was to evaluate injury risk in novice runners participating in different strength training interventions. This was a pilot randomized controlled trial. Novice runners (n = 129, 18-60 years old, <2 years recent running experience) were block randomized to one of three groups: a "resistance" strength training group, a "functional" strength training group, or a stretching "control" group. The primary outcome was running related injury. The number of participants with complaints and the injury rate (IR = no. injuries/1000 running hours) were quantified for each intervention group. For the first 8 weeks, participants were instructed to complete their training intervention three to five times a week. The remaining 4 months was a maintenance period.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  NCT01900262. A total of 52 of the 129 (40%) novice runners experienced at least one running related injury: 21 in the functional strength training program, 16 in the resistance strength training program and 15 in the control stretching program. Injury rates did not differ between study groups [IR = 32.9 (95% CI 20.8, 49.3) in the functional group, IR = 31.6 (95% CI 18.4, 50.5) in the resistance group, and IR = 26.7 (95% CI 15.2, 43.2)] in the control group. Although this was a pilot assessment, home-based strength training did not appear to alter injury rates compared to stretching. Future studies should consider methods to minimize participant drop out to allow for the assessment of injury risk. Injury risk in novice runners based on this pilot study will inform the development of future larger studies investigating the impact of injury prevention interventions.
authors.affiliation: Human Performance Laboratory (HPL), Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Baltich
authors.affiliation: Sport Injury Prevention Research Centre, Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.|The Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute for Child and Maternal Health, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Emery
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine, Glen Sather Sports Medicine Clinic, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Whittaker
authors.affiliation: Human Performance Laboratory (HPL), Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: B M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Nigg
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D052580:Muscle Stretching Exercises; D010865:Pilot Projects; D055070:Resistance Training / Q000379:methods; D012420:Running / Q000293:injuries*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Athletic injury; novice; prevention; strength training