An Exploratory, Retrospective Study on Injury Occurrence in Triathletes and Marathon Runners.

Background: Injury in populations of runners and triathletes is common. However, while variation in training type and modality is suspected to change the incidence of injury, these factors have not been fully explored.

Purpose: To investigate injury incidence in triathletes and marathon runners to determine which variables are associated with changes in injury reports.

Study design: Retrospective exploratory analysis.

Methods: Athletes who participated in marathons and triathlons were recruited via social media and endurance athletic groups to participate in a survey on injury history, training history, and training modality. Data were analyzed to assess relationships between factors using Chi-square and regression analysis.

Results: Three hundred and eighty-four marathon runners and triathletes participated (mean age 32; 130 males, 253 females, and one undetermined). There was a positive correlation between increased use of cycling as a training modality and overall injuries (t = 3.43, p = 0.00) Increased time spent cross training was positively correlated with overall injuries (t = 2.57, p = 0.01). Volume and frequency of running showed a significant negative correlation with overall injuries (t = -.12, p = 0 .02) as well as a negative correlation between increased weekly swimming time and overall injuries (t = -3.25, p = 0.00).

Conclusion: Although the number of events and type of event participated in had no statistically significant result on injury rate, the number of hours spent cycling and cross training demonstrated a positive relationship to injury, and number of hours spent swimming and running had a negative relationship on injury rate.

Level of evidence: Level 3.