Clinical trial NCT03671395: The DCU Running Injury Surveillance Centre Study: A Prospective Investigation of Factors Relating to Running Injuries
Official title: The DCU Running Injury Surveillance Centre (RISC) Study: A Prospective Investigation of Factors Relating to Running Injuries
Study type: OBSERVATIONAL
Overall status: UNKNOWN
Conditions: Musculoskeletal Injury
Keywords: Running Injuries
Motion Analysis
Biomechanics
Inertial Measurement Unit
Sensor Technology
Kinetic
Kinematic
Injury
Lead sponsor: Dublin City University
Sponsor class: OTHER
Collaborators: name: Insight Centre for Data Analytics
First posted: 2018-09-14
Enrollment: 315
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 18
Maximum age (years): 65
Standard ages: ADULT
OLDER_ADULT
Observational model: COHORT
Time perspective: PROSPECTIVE
Sampling method: NON_PROBABILITY_SAMPLE
Study population: Novice and recreation runners.

Brief summary: This study aims to prospectively investigate the relationship between a number of clinical and biomechanical variables and running-related injuries among a group of novice and recreational runners over a two year time period. To date, the incidence of running injuries among runners is high, with a lack of prospective research investigating the factors related to injury. It is thought that loading in excess of the tissues capabilities may be be a contributing factor to sustaining a running related injury. As such, this study hypothesizes that biomechanical factors may be related to injury.

Healthy participants will perform a battery of clinical tests at baseline, as well as completing a survey that details their injury history and training habits. Kinematic and kinetic motion analysis will be used as participants perform a series of functional movements and a treadmill run. Enrolled participants will be monitored for the occurrence of running-related injuries via email for the duration of the study.

Detailed description: Recruitment:

Novice and recreational runners will be recruited via emails, posters and social media. A novice runner is defined as a person who has not been running on a regular basis during the last year and completed ≤10km total training volume per week during the preceding year. A recreational runner will be defined as a person who runs a minimum of 10km per week, for at least six months prior to inclusion in the study.

Study Protocol:

Upon screening for inclusion and exclusion, participants will complete a baseline evaluation. This will consist of 1.) A survey, 2.) A battery of clinical tests and 3.) Motion analysis testing. A description of each component is detailed below.

1. Survey:

   This survey will be self-reported by each participant. The aim of this survey is to detail each participants history of injuries and training habits. Questions are deigned based on previous survey designs relating to running injuries.
2. Battery of clinical tests:

   The battery of physical performance tests will include: The foot posture index, the navicular drop, goniometry of the hip and ankle, dynamometry of the hip abductors, hip extensors, knee extensors, knee flexors and plantar flexors.
3. Motion analysis testing:

This will be broken into two components; a functional movement protocol and a treadmill run. During these components, motion will be tracked using wearable inertial sensors (Shimmer, Dublin, Ireland) and two forceplates (AMTI, Watertown, MA, USA). A 17-camera 3D motion analysis system (Vicon, Oxford, United Kingdom) will capture data at a sampling rate of 200 Hz. Reflective markers will be applied to the skin using specific anatomical landmarks to map their location. The functional movement protocol will consist of a series of jumping and landing movements, including double leg and single leg counter movement jumps, unilateral hopping, single leg drop landings and single leg drop jumps. Following this, participants will complete a run to fatigue. Motion analysis data will be captured at the end and start of this run. Fatigue will be determined by a reported rate of perceived exertion score of 17 (very hard) on the BORG Scale and a heart rate of 85% of the heart rate max, as determined by the Karvonen Formula (220-age).

Participants will then resume their normal training regime. Participants will be tracked for injuries via email over the course of the study.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* Runners aged 18-65
* Run minimum once per week

Exclusion Criteria:

* No lower limb injury within the last three months

An injury will be defined as:

* Any muscle, bone, tendon or ligament pain in the lower back, hip, groin, thigh, leg, knee, foot, ankle and toe that caused the participant to stop or restrict their running.
* The pain must last for at least 7 days or 3 consecutive scheduled training sessions, or require the participant to consult a physician or other health care professional.

Primary outcomes:
measure: The occurrence of a running-related injury
timeFrame: 6 week intervals from enrollment in the study, up to the total study time period of 2 years.
measure: Peak loading (N/s) during running and jumping movements.
timeFrame: One two hour session on day one of enrollment into the study.
measure: Rate of loading (N/s2) during running.
timeFrame: One two hour session on day one of enrollment into the study
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Peak range of motion (degrees) at the knee, hip and ankle during running.
timeFrame: During a 15 minute run during one two hour session on day 1 of enrollment into the study.
measure: Injury history in the past 2 years.
timeFrame: 10 minute questionnaire on day one of enrollment into the study.
measure: Training history- type
timeFrame: 10 minute questionnaire on day one of enrollment into the study.
measure: Training history-frequency
timeFrame: 10 minute questionnaire on day one of enrollment into the study.
measure: Training history- mileage
timeFrame: 10 minute questionnaire on day one of enrollment into the study.
measure: Training history- duration
timeFrame: 10 minute questionnaire on day one of enrollment into the study.
Other outcomes:
measure: Foot Posture Index (Scale, scoring from -12 to +12)
timeFrame: Measured during a single two hour session on day one of enrollment into the study.
measure: Navicular drop (mm)
timeFrame: Measured during a single two hour session on day one of enrollment into the study.
measure: Hip internal and external rotation range (degrees)
timeFrame: One two hour session on day one of enrollment into the study.
measure: Hip extension range (degrees)
timeFrame: Measured during a single two hour session on day one of enrollment into the study.
measure: Knee to wall test (degrees)
timeFrame: Measured during a single two hour session on day one of enrollment into the study.
measure: Isometric muscle strength of the hip abductors bilaterally (N/kg).
timeFrame: Measured during single two hour session on day one of enrollment into the study.
measure: Isometric muscle strength of the hip extensors bilaterally (N/kg).
timeFrame: Measured during single two hour session on day one of enrollment into the study.
measure: Isometric muscle strength of the knee extensors bilaterally (N/kg).
timeFrame: Measured during single two hour session on day one of enrollment into the study.
measure: Isometric muscle strength of the knee flexors bilaterally (N/kg).
timeFrame: Measured during single two hour session on day one of enrollment into the study.
measure: Isometric muscle strength of the plantar flexors bilaterally (N/kg).
timeFrame: Measured during single two hour session on day one of enrollment into the study.
Locations:
city: Dublin
country: Ireland
facility: Dublin City University
state: Leinster
Study officials:
affiliation: Dublin City University, Insight Centre for Data Analytics
name: Aoife Burke
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
affiliation: Dublin City University, Insight Centre for Data Analytics
name: Sarah Dillon
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
affiliation: Dublin City University, Insight Centre for Data Analytics
name: Dr Kieran Moran
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
References:
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citation: Buist I, Bredeweg SW, Lemmink KA, van Mechelen W, Diercks RL. Predictors of running-related injuries in novice runners enrolled in a systematic training program: a prospective cohort study. Am J Sports Med. 2010 Feb;38(2):273-80. doi: 10.1177/0363546509347985. Epub 2009 Dec 4.
citation: Ghani Zadeh Hesar N, Van Ginckel A, Cools A, Peersman W, Roosen P, De Clercq D, Witvrouw E. A prospective study on gait-related intrinsic risk factors for lower leg overuse injuries. Br J Sports Med. 2009 Dec;43(13):1057-61. doi: 10.1136/bjsm.2008.055723. Epub 2009 Feb 18.
citation: Hespanhol Junior LC, Pena Costa LO, Lopes AD. Previous injuries and some training characteristics predict running-related injuries in recreational runners: a prospective cohort study. J Physiother. 2013 Dec;59(4):263-9. doi: 10.1016/S1836-9553(13)70203-0.
citation: Lun V, Meeuwisse WH, Stergiou P, Stefanyshyn D. Relation between running injury and static lower limb alignment in recreational runners. Br J Sports Med. 2004 Oct;38(5):576-80. doi: 10.1136/bjsm.2003.005488.
citation: Malisoux L, Nielsen RO, Urhausen A, Theisen D. A step towards understanding the mechanisms of running-related injuries. J Sci Med Sport. 2015 Sep;18(5):523-8. doi: 10.1016/j.jsams.2014.07.014. Epub 2014 Aug 12.
citation: Nielsen RO, Buist I, Parner ET, Nohr EA, Sorensen H, Lind M, Rasmussen S. Predictors of Running-Related Injuries Among 930 Novice Runners: A 1-Year Prospective Follow-up Study. Orthop J Sports Med. 2013 May 2;1(1):2325967113487316. doi: 10.1177/2325967113487316. eCollection 2013 Jan-Jun.