Use of Running Equipment Predicts Running-Related Injury in Adult Runners: A Cohort Study of 7347 Runners From the Garmin-RUNSAFE Running Health Study.

Background: Running-related injuries are the most common reason to quit running. There is a gap of knowledge on the use of running equipment as a predictor of running-related injuries in running populations. Objective: To investigate if runners not using equipment while running have a higher rate of running-related injuries compared with runners using running equipment. Design and Methods: Cohort study with an 18-month follow-up, including runners > 18 years old. Exposure was defined as running equipment use, grouped by specific equipment: ankle or knee braces, - tape, insoles, compression socks, jogging stroller, and backpack. Additional groups included participants using multiple types of equipment, those unsure about their equipment use, and those who both indicated uncertainty and selected equipment. Results: Of the 7347 runners included, 3713 (51%) sustained a running-related injury. Runners using knee braces (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.48 [95% CI: 1.14-1.92]), ankle tape (HR = 2.10 [95% CI: 1.44-3.07]), knee tape (HR = 1.83 [95% CI: 1.19-2.82]), insoles (HR = 1.34 [95% CI: 1.20-1.49]), compression socks (HR = 1.14 [95% CI: 1.02-1.27]), or multiple types of equipment (HR = 1.27 [95% CI: 1.15-1.40]) were more prone to injury, while runners using a jogging stroller were less prone (HR = 0.63 [95% CI: 0.39-0.99]). No significant associations were observed for ankle braces (HR = 1.52 [95% CI: 0.90-2.58]), backpacks (HR = 1.00 [95% CI: 0.87-1.14]), runners uncertain about equipment (HR = 0.60 [95% CI: 0.25-1.44]), and uncertain runners who still selected equipment (HR = 1.01 [95% CI: 0.61-1.67]). Conclusion: Runners using certain types of running equipment (e.g., compression socks, insoles, and/or knee brace) while running had higher hazard rates for running-related injuries compared with runners not using running equipment. Owing to the predictive nature of the study, no causal claims between equipment use and running-related injuries can be made.