Can running-related injuries be prevented through an online behavioural intervention in adult novice runners? Results of a randomised controlled trial

OBJECTIVE : To evaluate the effectiveness of the Runfitcheck on time until the onset of a new running-related injury (RRI) among adult novice runners. METHODS : A three-arm randomised controlled trial was conducted over 7 months. Adult novice runners completed a baseline online questionnaire on their characteristics, running activity, RRIs and injury preventive behaviour. Runners were randomly allocated to one of two intervention groups or the control group (n=238). One intervention group obtained access to the Runfitcheck (n=252), an online intervention to encourage injury preventive behaviour, and was fortnightly promoted to use Runfitcheck; the other intervention group (n=251) was directed towards the Runfitcheck once. Runners were followed for 4 months, not all starting at the same time over 7 months. The main outcome measure was time to a new RRI using the Oslo Sports Trauma Research Centre Overuse Injury Questionnaire, and was analysed with survival analysis Cox regression. Generalised estimating equations (GEE) were used to gain insight into the effectiveness of the Runfitcheck. RESULTS : The time to the occurrence of the first RRI did not differ between the study groups (Wald χ2=0.893). GEE analysis showed no difference in the risk of a new RRI in the group that was referred to the Runfitcheck once (OR 1.22, 95% CI 0.86 to 1.74) nor in the active approach group (OR 1.01, 95% CI 0.71 to 1.45) compared with the control group. Furthermore, the onset of the new RRIs did not change over time (OR 0.96, 95% CI 0.91 to 1.01). CONCLUSIONS : The online intervention Runfitcheck was ineffective in reducing the instantaneous risk of new RRIs in adult novice runners. More research is needed to determine how injuries in novice runners can be prevented. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: Dutch Trial Registry (ID: NL7823).https://bmjopensem.bmj.comhj2023Sports Medicin

Recovery kinetics during a 3-day floorball tournament

During tournaments, team sport athletes are exposed to high physical loads due to a large number of games played within a few days. To perform well and prevent injuries, recovery in between these games is crucial. To monitor the recovery kinetics the Total Quality of Recovery (TQR) is suggested as a practical and useful tool (Kentta et al, 1998). The purpose of this study was to explore the feasibility and sensitivity of the TQR as a recovery monitoring tool during a 3-day floorball tournament. Methods Eleven elite Dutch female floorball athletes (age:24.3±4.8, length:171.5±9.1, weight:67.6±8.1) participated in a 3-day tournament. Their recovery was monitored with the TQR scale (6-20) (Kentta et al, 1998). All athletes were asked to rate their recovery each morning and every two hours including;1 hour prior to the game (pre-game), immediately after the game (post-game) and 2 hours post-game. Comparisons were made for the TQR at the beginning and end of the tournament as well as pre- vs. post-game

Recovery kinetics during a 3-day floorball tournament

During tournaments, team sport athletes are exposed to high physical loads due to a large number of games played within a few days. To perform well and prevent injuries, recovery in between these games is crucial. To monitor the recovery kinetics the Total Quality of Recovery (TQR) is suggested as a practical and useful tool (Kentta et al, 1998). The purpose of this study was to explore the feasibility and sensitivity of the TQR as a recovery monitoring tool during a 3-day floorball tournament. Methods Eleven elite Dutch female floorball athletes (age:24.3±4.8, length:171.5±9.1, weight:67.6±8.1) participated in a 3-day tournament. Their recovery was monitored with the TQR scale (6-20) (Kentta et al, 1998). All athletes were asked to rate their recovery each morning and every two hours including;1 hour prior to the game (pre-game), immediately after the game (post-game) and 2 hours post-game. Comparisons were made for the TQR at the beginning and end of the tournament as well as pre- vs. post-game