The socio-economic impact of running-related injuries:A large prospective cohort study

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the impact of running‐related injuries (RRIs) on activities of daily living (ADL), work, healthcare utilization, and estimated costs. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study with data from a randomized controlled trial. METHODS: Adult recreational runners who registered for a running event (distances 5 to 42 km) were included in this study. Minimum follow‐up duration was 3 months (preparation, event participation, and post‐race period). Injuries were registered using a standardized definition. Primary outcome measure was a standardized 5‐item survey on limitations in ADL. The survey data were categorized to the number of injured runners with complete/moderate/no limitations. This outcome was expressed as the percentage of injured runners with any limitation (complete or moderate limitations amalgamated). Secondary outcomes were work absenteeism, the number of healthcare visits per injured runner, and estimated direct medical and indirect costs per participant and per RRI. RESULTS: 1929 runners (mean [SD] age 41 [12] years, 53% men) were included in this study and 883 runners (46%) sustained a RRI during the course of the study. Injured runners reported the highest limitations (% with any limitation) of RRIs during the first week of injury on sports and leisure activities (70%) and transportation activities (23%). 39% of the injured runners visited a healthcare professional. Work absenteeism due to the RRI was reported in 5% of the injured runners. The total mean estimated costs were €74 per RRI and €35 per participant. CONCLUSIONS: Injured runners are mainly limited in their transportation activities and during sports and leisure. While the estimated costs of RRIs are not high when expressed per participant, the absolute costs may be substantial due to the popularity of running

Talking tangibles

This paper describes ongoing research in a 4 year PhD project that started in June 2009. With the computer becoming pervasive in everyday life, a need for new interaction styles has emerged. In the realm of the vision of calm technology [6], we see potential in interaction shifting to the periphery of the attention. The aim of this research is to study interactive systems designed for peripheral interaction by combining physical artifacts and audio

Co-design of Sustainability Models: Examples

The process to develop a Sustainability Model Canvas described in the previous chapter was applied to three different social innovation projects of the CampUs program: Plug Social TV, Shared Garden, and Adaptable Self-Managed Itinerant Pavilion (PAAI in Italian). In this chapter, we illustrate the canvases developed for these social innovation projects and the processes followed to obtain these results. Moreover, we describe the main issues which emerged from the first attempts to identify value propositions, customer segments, and revenue streams leading up to the final Sustainability Model Canvas defined for each project. The workshops and the processes described in this chapter have helped the three social innovation projects to define their economic sustainability path

Measuring Ultrasonographic Thickness of the Achilles Tendon Insertion is Less Reliable Than the Midportion in Healthy Tendons and Patients With Tendinopathy

Introduction: Ultrasound is the preferred imaging method in the diagnostic process of Achilles tendinopathy (AT). Ultrasound tissue characterization (UTC) is a frequently used, standardized and valid method to assess tendon geometry in AT patients. It is unknown whether UTC is reliable for measuring Achilles tendon thickness. The aim of the study was to assess intra- and inter-rater reliability of Achilles tendon thickness measurements using UTC in both asymptomatic individuals and patients with AT, and to evaluate if the reliability of thickness measurements differs between the midportion and insertional area. Methods: Exactly 50 patients with AT and 50 asymptomatic individuals were included. Using the conventional US and standardized UTC procedure maximum thickness was measured in the midportion and insertion region. To determine inter- and intra-rater reliabilities, the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was used. Results: The ICC values for inter- and intra-rater reliability were classified as “excellent,” for the AT group (0.93 [95% CI: 0.88–0.96] and 0.95 [0.92–0.97]) and asymptomatic participants (0.91 [0.87–0.94] and 0.94 [0.92–0.96]). The reliability of measuring tendon thickness in the midportion region was “excellent,” with both inter-rater (0.97 [0.95–0.98]) and intra-rater (0.98 [0.96–0.99]) ICC values indicating high levels of agreement. In the insertional region, ICC values for inter-rater (0.79 [0.69–0.87]) and intra-rater (0.89 [0.84–0.93]) reliability were “moderate to good.”. Conclusion: We showed excellent reliability for measuring the US thickness of the midportion and good reliability of measuring the insertional region in patients with AT. Significantly lower ICCs were observed for the reliability of thickness measurements in the insertional region when compared with the midportion.</p

When behaviour change is about hot air: home systems should change behaviour to fit practices

Existing residential housing has to become more sustainable to meet globalCO2 reduction goals. Zero energy home refurbishment is one approach to achieve this. Rather than the currently common behaviour change approach, this study investigates residents’ experiences and practices with regard to their home environment. The study consists of interviews in 11 residents’ own homes. The residents live in homes in various levels of refurbishment, including zero energy. The study focuses particularly on ventilation. Ventilation is an issue that is understudied yet known to affect homes’ energy performance as well as residents’ comfort experience. The study reveals many issues with trust, understanding and unfavourable associations of ventilation systems.The study then presents a number of exemplary design directions that could address these issues. The implications are that practices should be studied more to reveal such issues, and that there is a need for better home systems design approaches.Applied Ergonomics and DesignDesign Conceptualization and Communicatio

The socio-economic impact of running-related injuries:A large prospective cohort study

Objectives To evaluate the impact of running-related injuries (RRIs) on activities of daily living (ADL), work, healthcare utilization, and estimated costs. Design Prospective cohort study with data from a randomized controlled trial. Methods Adult recreational runners who registered for a running event (distances 5 to 42 km) were included in this study. Minimum follow-up duration was 3 months (preparation, event participation, and post-race period). Injuries were registered using a standardized definition. Primary outcome measure was a standardized 5-item survey on limitations in ADL. The survey data were categorized to the number of injured runners with complete/moderate/no limitations. This outcome was expressed as the percentage of injured runners with any limitation (complete or moderate limitations amalgamated). Secondary outcomes were work absenteeism, the number of healthcare visits per injured runner, and estimated direct medical and indirect costs per participant and per RRI. Results 1929 runners (mean [SD] age 41 [12] years, 53% men) were included in this study and 883 runners (46%) sustained a RRI during the course of the study. Injured runners reported the highest limitations (% with any limitation) of RRIs during the first week of injury on sports and leisure activities (70%) and transportation activities (23%). 39% of the injured runners visited a healthcare professional. Work absenteeism due to the RRI was reported in 5% of the injured runners. The total mean estimated costs were euro74 per RRI and euro35 per participant. Conclusions Injured runners are mainly limited in their transportation activities and during sports and leisure. While the estimated costs of RRIs are not high when expressed per participant, the absolute costs may be substantial due to the popularity of running.</p