Injury Prevention Education for Running Injuries

(ROIPF Trial)

Overseen By Patrick Mayerhofer, PhD

Age: 18+

Sex: Female

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Simon Fraser University

Disqualifiers: Current pain with running

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 5

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial explores the effectiveness of a program in collecting data as runners follow a 12-week training plan for a half-marathon. The study aims to determine whether runners adhere to training recommendations and if the data collected is reliable. Participants will receive either standard training advice or join a group testing new recommendations. Ideal candidates are women who run regularly, have no recent injuries, own specific running gear, and can attend an in-person session. As an unphased trial, this study allows participants to contribute to innovative research in running training programs.

Do I need to stop my current medications to join the trial?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It seems focused on running and injury prevention, so it's best to ask the trial organizers for more details.

What prior data suggests that this education protocol is safe for participants?

Studies have shown that injury prevention programs, like those used in this trial, are generally safe. For example, research by Lauersen, Bertelsen, and Andersen found that these programs can reduce overuse injuries by 47% in various sports. This demonstrates that the programs are not only safe but also effective in preventing certain injuries.

No reports of harmful effects have emerged from participating in these educational programs, indicating they are well-tolerated by participants. The focus on teaching safe training techniques provides a gentle and non-invasive approach. Overall, joining a trial focused on injury prevention education is expected to be a safe choice. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about this trial because it explores a new way to prevent running injuries through education. Unlike traditional treatments that focus on rest, physical therapy, or medication after an injury occurs, this approach aims to stop injuries before they start. By educating runners on proper techniques and practices, this method could reduce the risk of common injuries like sprains and strains, potentially leading to healthier, more sustainable running habits. This proactive strategy could revolutionize how we think about injury prevention in sports.

What evidence suggests that this education is effective for preventing running injuries?

This trial will compare a control group with an intervention group receiving injury prevention education. Research has shown that educational programs can significantly reduce sports injuries. For example, one study found that injury prevention programs (IPPs) led to a 47% decrease in overuse injuries across various sports. While not all studies agree, some evidence suggests that learning about injury prevention can help runners adopt safer habits. The effectiveness of these programs can depend on their delivery and target audience. Overall, education has the potential to lower running injuries, but results can vary based on program implementation. ^{1 4 5 6 7}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Chris Napier, PhD

Principal Investigator

Simon Fraser University

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for individuals preparing for a half-marathon who are interested in injury prevention. Participants should be willing to follow a standard 12-week training program and allow data collection from various sources.

Inclusion Criteria

Have run on average 3 times/week for the last 6 months

Own a GPS-enabled smart watch with an optical wrist heart rate sensor

Fit shoe size between 6.5 and 8.5 US women's sizing

Exclusion Criteria

Any current pain with running

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

1-2 weeks

Online eligibility questionnaire

Orientation

Initial in-person 1-hour orientation session to familiarize participants with the study protocol and equipment

1 week

1 visit (in-person)

Familiarization

Participants become comfortable with the protocol and equipment

1-2 weeks

Training

Participants follow a 12-week half-marathon training program with data collection and individualized or generic training recommendations

12 weeks

4 runs per week, including optional in-person group runs

Follow-up

Participants complete an exit questionnaire and return equipment

1 week

Online exit questionnaire

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Generic Education

Trial Overview The study is testing the effectiveness of an educational intervention aimed at preventing injuries during a half-marathon training program. It's designed to see if participants can stick to the guidelines and if reliable data can be gathered.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Intervention Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Group II: Control Active Control 1 Intervention

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Simon Fraser University

Lead Sponsor

Trials

59

Recruited

12,500+

Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council, Canada

Collaborator

Trials

63

Recruited

3,000+

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11127851/

Do Exercise-Based Prevention Programs Reduce Injury in ... Pooled data showed that exercise-based injury prevention programs provide no reduction in injury risk or injury rate compared to running only.

2. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11986186/

Running-Centred Injury Prevention Support: A Scoping ... Lauersen, Bertelsen, and Andersen reported a 47% reduction in overuse injury with IPPs implemented across a range of sports, but the overuse injuries reported ...

3. jospt.org jospt.org/doi/10.2519/jospt.2023.11959

The Garmin-RUNSAFE Running Health Study The proportion of runners sustaining time-loss injuries across different populations ranges from 3.2% to 84.9%, making it impossible to evaluate ...

4. bjsm.bmj.com bjsm.bmj.com/content/56/12/676

Educational online prevention programme (the SPRINT study ... The aim of this study was to examine the effectiveness of an enhanced online injury prevention programme on the number of running-related injuries (RRIs) in ...

5. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2451865421000284

Cost-effectiveness and implementation process of a ... The main hypothesis of this study is that the RunIn3 program will be effective in reducing the running-related injury risk and in promoting preventive behavior, ...

6. bjsm.bmj.com bjsm.bmj.com/content/59/17/1203

How much running is too much? Identifying high-risk ... Of the 5205 runners, a total of 1820 (35.0%) reported a running-related injury, of which 1311 (72.0%) were classified as overuse injuries (main outcome), and ...

7. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666061X21002303

Injury Prevention, Safe Training Techniques, Rehabilitation ... Cross-sectional data collected over four trail races revealed that of the total respondent pool, 22% had suffered ITB syndrome, 10% had Achilles tendon injury, ...