Hip and Core Exercise Program Prevents Running-Related Overuse Injuries

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Hip and Core Exercise Program Prevents Running-Related Overuse Injuries

Investigating Exercise Interventions to Reduce Running Injuries

This study examined the effectiveness of two exercise interventions in reducing lower extremity (LE) injuries among novice recreational runners. Participants (245 female, 80 male) were randomly assigned to either a hip and core group (n=108), ankle and foot group (n=111), or control group (n=106). The interventions, completed before running, consisted of exercise programs targeting hip and core muscles or ankle and foot muscles, supervised by a physiotherapist. The control group performed static stretching exercises. All groups followed the same running program, and injuries and running exposure were recorded weekly over 24 weeks.

Key Findings:

  • The hip and core group had a lower incidence of LE injuries compared to the control group (HR 0.66; 95% CI 0.45 to 0.97).
  • Weekly overuse injuries were significantly lower in the hip and core group compared to the control group (prevalence rate ratio [PRR] 0.61, 95% CI 0.39 to 0.96).
  • The hip and core group also showed a reduced prevalence of substantial overuse injuries (PRR 0.48, 95% CI 0.27 to 0.90).
  • The ankle and foot group did not demonstrate a significant reduction in overuse injuries compared to the control group.
  • The ankle and foot group showed a higher incidence of acute injuries compared to the control group (HR 3.60, 95% CI 1.20 to 10.86).

Conclusion: A physiotherapist-guided exercise program focusing on the hip and core muscles effectively reduced LE injuries in novice recreational runners. In contrast, the ankle and foot exercise program did not decrease LE injuries and did not protect against acute injuries compared to static stretching.

This study underscores the importance of targeted exercise interventions supervised by physiotherapists to prevent running-related injuries among novice runners.

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Leppänen, M., Viiala, J., Kaikkonen, P., Tokola, K., Vasankari, T., Nigg, B. M., Krosshaug, T., Werthner, P., Parkkari, J., & Pasanen, K. (n.d.). Hip and core exercise programme prevents running-related overuse injuries in adult novice recreational runners: A three-arm randomised controlled trial (Run RCT). Retrieved July 8, 2024, from http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6521-5745