Running-related musculoskeletal injuries, risk factors and treatment among Kenyan runners

Abstract

Background: There is dearth of data on Running-Related Musculoskeletal Injuries (RRMI) both locally and regionally.

Objective: To determine the types, associated risk factors and treatment of RRMI among the runners in the North Rift region of Kenya.

Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study of Kenyan runners within selected training camps was conducted from January to March 2016. An interviewer administered questionnaire was used to collect data.

Results: A total of 108 runners were interviewed with a male to female ratio of 5:1. The most common location of injury encountered were; posterior thigh or hamstring 43 cases (39.8%), knee 33 cases (30.6%), Achilles tendon 30 cases (27.8%) and groin injuries 24 cases (22.2%). Female runners sustained more hip injuries than the males (p=0.001) while male runners sustained more groin injuries (p=0.012). About 67% of the participants trained more than 15 hours per week while 75% ran over 150km weekly without recommended rest. There was
poor health seeking behaviour with only 19% of the RRMI being seen in hospitals while the rest undergoing massaging within the camps for almost all the injuries.

Conclusion: Hamstring injuries were the commonest RRMI. Most runners practised overtraining, used medicated ointments for first aid then underwent physiotherapy within the camps without proper investigations and thereafter returned to training before full recovery.

Recommendations: Establishing a Sports Care Centre that will institute measures for preventive strategies, early diagnosis and management of RRMI by sports physicians.

Keywords: Running-Related Musculoskeletal Injuries (RRMI), Kenyan runners