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Risk factors for overuse injuries in runners’ ankles: a literature review

FATORES DE RISCO PARA LESÕES DE ESFORÇO EM TORNOZELOS DE CORREDORES: REVISÃO DA LITERATURA

Abstracts

INTRODUCTION:

In spite of the numerous benefits to human health and given the increase of running as an exercise that has become popular worldwide, this type of sport may be the cause of a number of different injuries. The foot, ankle and lower leg comprise almost 40% of the injuries. However, the etiology of these types of injury is still not completely understood.

OBJECTIVE:

To investigate the causes of the onset of overuse injury in runners.

METHODS:

A systematic search of the electronic database was made: Bireme, Pubmed and PEDro, which were selected that addressed clinical trials, control cases, prospective and cross-sectional studies.

RESULTS:

The search through the descriptors yielded 324 references. Using our predefined inclusion criteria (case studies, clinical trials, prospective studies and cross studies that addressed adult runners, amateur or professional) 68 articles remained; 24 citations were excluded after reading the title, and 35 were excluded after reading the abstract and the full text. Therefore nine studies that met the criteria for analysis were included.

CONCLUSION:

The etiology of overuse injuries in runners is multifactorial. This review showed that distance, soil type and footwear, as well as a history of previous injuries, biomechanical changes such as increased dorsiflexion and eversion ankle, and greater knee flexion are risk factors that influence the occurrence of these injuries.

KEYWORDS:
Ankle; Overuse; Running


INTRODUÇÃO

Apesar dos inúmeros benefícios para a saúde humana e considerando o aumento da corrida como exercício, atividade mundialmente popular, este tipo de esporte pode ser a causa de uma série de diferentes lesões. O pé, tornozelo e parte inferior da perna compreendem quase 40% das lesões. No entanto, a etiologia destas lesões permanece mal compreendida.

OBJETIVO:

investigar as causas do aparecimento da lesão de esforço em corredores.

MÉTODOS:

Uma busca sistemática foi realizada nas seguintes bases de dados: Bireme, PubMed e PEDro, selecionando-se ensaios clínicos, casos controle, estudos prospectivos e de corte transversal.

RESULTADOS:

A pesquisa através dos descritores rendeu 324 referências. Usando critérios de inclusão pré-definidos (estudos de casos, ensaios clínicos, estudos prospectivos e estudos transversais que abordavam adultos corredores indivíduos, amador ou profissional) permaneceram 68 artigos; 24 citações foram excluídos depois de ler o título, e 35 foram excluídos após a leitura do resumo e do texto integral. Portanto nove estudos que preencheram os critérios de análise foram incluídos.

CONCLUSÃO:

A etiologia das lesões de esforço em corredores é multifatorial. Esta revisão mostrou que a distância, tipo de solo e calçados, bem como uma história de lesões prévias, alterações biomecânicas como o aumento da dorsiflexão e eversão do tornozelo, e uma maior flexão do joelho são fatores de risco que influenciam a ocorrência dessas lesões.

UNITERMOS:
Tornozelo; Uso excessivo; Lesões de esforço; Corredores


INTRODUCTION

The number of people who practice running has increased in the last three decades.11 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;38(2):273-80.,22 Taunton JE, Ryan MB, Clement DB, McKenzie DC, Lloyd-Smith DR, Zumbo BD. A retrospective case-control analysis of 2002 running injuries. Br J Sports Med. 2002;36(2):95-101. in parallel with a general increase of physical activity. Running is one of the most popular sports and statistics show significant growth in recent years.33 Van Gent RN, Siem D, van Middelkoop M, van Os AG, Bierma-Zeinstra SM, Koes BW. Incidence and determinants of lower extremity running injuries in long distance runners: a systematic review. Br J Sports Med. 2007;41(8):469-480. In spite of its positive effects on health and well-being, there are also injuries related to it.11 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;38(2):273-80.,44 Nielsen RO, Buist I, Sørensen H, Lind M, Rasmussen S. Training errors and running related injuries: a systematic review. Int J Sports Phys Ther. 2012;7(1):58-75.

According Taunton et al.22 Taunton JE, Ryan MB, Clement DB, McKenzie DC, Lloyd-Smith DR, Zumbo BD. A retrospective case-control analysis of 2002 running injuries. Br J Sports Med. 2002;36(2):95-101. a in study with more than 2,000 individuals who attributed their injuries to running, the knee is the point of higher incidence. The foot, the ankle and the lower leg comprise almost 40% of the remaining injury, while less than 20% of the reported injuries occurr above the knee. Lesions are mainly the result repeated low intensity mechanical overloads and this is the context that characterizes overuse injuries.22 Taunton JE, Ryan MB, Clement DB, McKenzie DC, Lloyd-Smith DR, Zumbo BD. A retrospective case-control analysis of 2002 running injuries. Br J Sports Med. 2002;36(2):95-101.,55 Wilder RP, Shikha S. Overuse injuries: tendinopathies, stress fractures, compartment syndrome, and shin splints. Clin Sports Med. 2004;23(1):55-81.

Research shows that the most commom sites of overuse injuries are legs, ankles and feet. Among these, the ankle66 Collins K, Wagner M, Peterson K, Storey M. Overuse injuries in triathletes: a study of the 1986 Seafair Triathlon. Am J Sports Med. 1989;17(5):675-80.

7 Crossley K, Bennel KL, Wrigley T, Oakes W. Ground reaction forces, bone characteristics and tibial stress fracture in male runners. Med. Sci. Sports Exerc. 1999;31(8):1088-93.

8 Iwamoto J, Takeda T. Stress fractures in athletes: review of 196 cases. J Orthop Sci. 2003;8(3):273-78.

9 Monteleone GP jr. Stress fractures in the athlete. Orthop Clin North Am. 1995;26(3):423-32.
-1010 O`Toole ML, Hiller DB, Smith RA, Sisk TD. Overuse injuries in ultraendurance triathletes. Am J Sports Med. 1989;17(4):514-18. is the structure where the main types of overuse injuries are observed: stress fracture, tendinitis calcaneus, chronic compartment effort syndrome and medial tibial stress syndrome.55 Wilder RP, Shikha S. Overuse injuries: tendinopathies, stress fractures, compartment syndrome, and shin splints. Clin Sports Med. 2004;23(1):55-81.,1111 Hreljac A, Marshall RN, Hume PA. Evaluation of lower extremity overuse injury potential in runners. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2000;32(9):1635-41.

Overuse injuries have a multifactorial etiology and the contributing factors may be intrinsic or extrinsic.1212 Maffulli N, Wong J, Almekinders LC. Types and epidemiology of tendinopathy. Clin Sports Med. 2003;22(4):675-92.

13 Maffulli N, Kader D. Tendinopathy of tendo achillis. J Bone Joint Surg Br. 2002;84(1):1-8.

14 Munteanu SE, Barton CJ. Lower limb biomechanics during running in individuals with achilles tendinopathy: a systematic review. J Foot Ankle Res. 2011;4:15.
-1515 Reule CA, Alt WW, Lohrer H, Hochwald H. Spatial orientation of the subtalar joint axis is different in subjects with and without Achilles tendon disorders. Br J Sports Med. 2011;45(13):1029-34. Intrinsic factors are demographic (age, gender and race), anatomical (dysmetry, high arch of the foot and valgus knee) and biomechanical (mineral density and bone geometry).1616 Giladi M, Milgrom C, Stein M, Kashtan H, Margulies J, Chisin R, et al. The low arch, a protective factor in stress fractures. A prospective study of 295 military recruits. Orthop Rev. 1985;14:709-12.

17 Simkin A, Leichter I, Giladi M, Stein M, Milgrom C. Combined effect of foot arch structure and an orthotic device on stress fractures. Foot Ankle. 1989;10(1):25-9.

18 Finestone A, Shlamkovitch N, Eldad A, Wosk J, Laor A, Danon YL, Milgrom C. Risk factors for stress fractures among Israeli infantry recruits. Mil Med. 1991;156(10):528-30.

19 Cowan DN, Jones BH, Frykman PN, Polly DW Jr, Harman EA, Rosenstein RM, Rosenstein MT. Lower limb morphology and risk of overuse injury among male infantry trainees. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1996;28(8):945-52.

20 Korpelainen R, Orava S, Karpakka J, Siira P, Hulkko A. Risk factors for recurrent stress fractures in athletes. Am J Sports Med. 2001;29(3):304-10.

21 Jones BH, Thacker SB, Gilchrist J, Kimsey CD Jr, Sosin DM. Prevention of Lower Extremity Stress Fractures in Athletes and Soldiers: A Systematic Review. Epidemiol Rev. 2002;24(2):228-47.

22 Bennell K, Brukner P. Preventing and managing stress fractures in athletes. Phys Ther Sport. 2005;6(4):171-80.

23 Pepper M, Akuthota V, McCarty EC. The pathophysiology of stress fractures. Clin Sports Med. 2006;25(1):1-16.
-2424 Snyder RA, Koester MC, Dunn WR. Epidemiology of stress fracture. Clin Sports Med. 2006;25(1):37-52. Extrinsic factors refer to the characteristics of the training: volume, intensity and frequency, environment and shoes.33 Van Gent RN, Siem D, van Middelkoop M, van Os AG, Bierma-Zeinstra SM, Koes BW. Incidence and determinants of lower extremity running injuries in long distance runners: a systematic review. Br J Sports Med. 2007;41(8):469-480.,2525 Hreljac A. Impact and overuse injuries in runners. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2004;36(5):845-9.

Because of the varied nature of the causes of these injuries and due to the need to constantly improve rehabilitation and prevention, the objective of this study was to conduct a review of risk factors associated with overuse injuries in runners' ankles.

METHODS

This study was developed at the Laboratory of Movement Study, Institute of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Faculty of Medicine, University of São Paulo, Brazil.

Inclusion criteria

The inclusion criteria were case studies, clinical trials, prospective and cross-sectional studies that addressed adult runners (18-44 years old), amateur or professional. The included studies had biomechanical and risk factors evaluation in subjects with a history of overuse injury to the ankle, published over the last 10 years, in English. We excluded studies that addressed disorders that were not overuse injuries in runners. Review articles and case reports were also excluded.

Research strategy

The literature review was carried out in the following electronic databases: Bireme (Regional Medical Library), PubMed (U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Istitutes of Health) and PEDro (Physiotherapy Evidence Database). The search aimed to find articles published on overuse injuries in runners' ankles, with the following scientific descriptors: overuse injuries, ankle and running.

Review process

Two researchers (NFBA and NMSL) independently conducted the review process. After the pre-selection of articles, titles and abstracts were read to check for compliance to the objectives. The references were selected by reading the titles and abstracts independently, and by creating a single list of all the articles to be included into, or excluded from the study. In case of doubt, the complete text was read. After this stage, the inclusion or not of the articles was decided. The search through the descriptors totaled 324 references. Using the inclusion criteria, 68 studies remained. We excluded 24 citations after reading the title, and 35 after reading the abstract and the full text, leaving therefore nine studies that met the analysis criteria. A third examiner (ACC) inspected the data in quest for any disagreement between the two primary researchers.2626 Centre for Reviews and Dissemination. Systematic reviews: CRD's guidance for undertaking reviews in health care. York: University of York, 2009. Available: http://www.york.ac.uk/inst/crd/systematic_reviews_book.htm.
http://www.york.ac.uk/inst/crd/systemati...

RESULTS

Table 1 presents the results of the primary search. Once the complete articles were acquired and the complete reading of those studies was evaluated, nine studies were elligible for review, as illustrated by the flow chart in Figure 1.

Table 1
Articles detected with each keyword or Boolean set of keywords located in each of the databases
Figure 1
Flow chart of study selection.

The selected studies were analyzed and data extraction was carried out as the sample characterization, details of the assessment or intervention and conclusion. The year of publication of the articles was from 2004 to 2012 and the sample size ranged 22-1004 subjects. All articles were clinical trials, including a prospective cohort study. Of the nine studies selected, seven included a control group, and six compared subjects with and without injury; in one study all participants had a history of injury and were divided into two groups, one using bracing, one not (group control).

The most recent study investigated overuse injuries in running and associated factors through a questionnaire.2727 Chang WL, Shih YF, Chen WY. Running injuries and associated factors in participants of ING Taipei Marathon. Phys Ther Sport. 2012;13(3):170-4 Two studies assessed the activation of ankle muscles during running using electromyography.2828 Baur H, Hirschmüller A, Müller S, Mayer F. Neuromuscular activity of the peroneal muscle after foot orthoses therapy in runners. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2011;43(8):1500-6.,2929 Baur H, Müller S, Hirschmüller A, Cassel M, Weber J, Mayer F. Comparison in lower leg neuromuscular activity between runners with Unilateral mid-portion Achilles tendinopathy and healthy individuals. J Electromyogr Kinesiol. 2011;21(3):499-505. Four studies consisted of kinematic analysis performed by a three-dimensional camera system3030 Ryan M, Grau S, Krauss I, Maiwald C, Taunton J, Horstmann T. Kinematic analysis of runners with achilles mid-portion tendinopathy. Foot Ankle Int. 2009;30(12):1190-5.

31 Donoghue OA, Harrison AJ, Coffey N, Hayes K. Functional data analysis of running kinematics in chronic Achilles tendon injury. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2008;40(7):1323-35.

32 Donoghue OA, Harrison AJ, Laxton P, Jones RK. Lower limb kinematics of subjects with chronic achilles tendon injury during running. Res Sports Med. 2008;16(1):23-38.
-3333 Milner CE, Ferber R, Pollard CD, Hamill J, Davis IS. Factors associated with tibial stress fracture in female runners. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2006;38(2):323-8. whereas a single study included a kinetic analysis performed on a force platform.3333 Milner CE, Ferber R, Pollard CD, Hamill J, Davis IS. Factors associated with tibial stress fracture in female runners. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2006;38(2):323-8. One study used an electronic platform system for assessment of foot type (Novel Electronics Munich, Germany);3434 Nakhaee Z, Rahimi A, Abaee M, Rezasoltani A, Kalantari KK. The relationship between the height of the medial longitudinal arch (MLA) and the ankle and knee injuries in professional runners. The Foot. 2008;18(2): 84-90. and finally, one study measured the alignment of the lower limbs through measuring devices (tape and goniometer).3535 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;38(5):576-80.

Achilles tendinopathy was the most discussed injury, appearing in four articles2929 Baur H, Müller S, Hirschmüller A, Cassel M, Weber J, Mayer F. Comparison in lower leg neuromuscular activity between runners with Unilateral mid-portion Achilles tendinopathy and healthy individuals. J Electromyogr Kinesiol. 2011;21(3):499-505.

30 Ryan M, Grau S, Krauss I, Maiwald C, Taunton J, Horstmann T. Kinematic analysis of runners with achilles mid-portion tendinopathy. Foot Ankle Int. 2009;30(12):1190-5.

31 Donoghue OA, Harrison AJ, Coffey N, Hayes K. Functional data analysis of running kinematics in chronic Achilles tendon injury. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2008;40(7):1323-35.
-3232 Donoghue OA, Harrison AJ, Laxton P, Jones RK. Lower limb kinematics of subjects with chronic achilles tendon injury during running. Res Sports Med. 2008;16(1):23-38., followed by stress fracture(one study)3333 Milner CE, Ferber R, Pollard CD, Hamill J, Davis IS. Factors associated with tibial stress fracture in female runners. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2006;38(2):323-8.. However, the other four articles included various overuse injuries in the lower limbs.2727 Chang WL, Shih YF, Chen WY. Running injuries and associated factors in participants of ING Taipei Marathon. Phys Ther Sport. 2012;13(3):170-4,2828 Baur H, Hirschmüller A, Müller S, Mayer F. Neuromuscular activity of the peroneal muscle after foot orthoses therapy in runners. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2011;43(8):1500-6.,3434 Nakhaee Z, Rahimi A, Abaee M, Rezasoltani A, Kalantari KK. The relationship between the height of the medial longitudinal arch (MLA) and the ankle and knee injuries in professional runners. The Foot. 2008;18(2): 84-90.,3535 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;38(5):576-80.

The manner of evaluation during running varied widely. In two studies individuals were evaluated running with standardized neutral shoes.2929 Baur H, Müller S, Hirschmüller A, Cassel M, Weber J, Mayer F. Comparison in lower leg neuromuscular activity between runners with Unilateral mid-portion Achilles tendinopathy and healthy individuals. J Electromyogr Kinesiol. 2011;21(3):499-505.,3333 Milner CE, Ferber R, Pollard CD, Hamill J, Davis IS. Factors associated with tibial stress fracture in female runners. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2006;38(2):323-8. In the study by Lun et al.3535 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;38(5):576-80. participants wore their usual running shoes. In the Donoghue et al.3232 Donoghue OA, Harrison AJ, Laxton P, Jones RK. Lower limb kinematics of subjects with chronic achilles tendon injury during running. Res Sports Med. 2008;16(1):23-38. study, participants either wore shoes or ran barefoot; in Ryan et al.3030 Ryan M, Grau S, Krauss I, Maiwald C, Taunton J, Horstmann T. Kinematic analysis of runners with achilles mid-portion tendinopathy. Foot Ankle Int. 2009;30(12):1190-5. all runners ran barefoot. In the other Donoghue et al. study3131 Donoghue OA, Harrison AJ, Coffey N, Hayes K. Functional data analysis of running kinematics in chronic Achilles tendon injury. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2008;40(7):1323-35. athletes used their own shoes and were evaluated with and without orthosis; in the Baur et al. study,2828 Baur H, Hirschmüller A, Müller S, Mayer F. Neuromuscular activity of the peroneal muscle after foot orthoses therapy in runners. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2011;43(8):1500-6. the test group used orthosis and the control group did not; in the Nakhaee et al. study3434 Nakhaee Z, Rahimi A, Abaee M, Rezasoltani A, Kalantari KK. The relationship between the height of the medial longitudinal arch (MLA) and the ankle and knee injuries in professional runners. The Foot. 2008;18(2): 84-90. athletes were evaluated during free gait.

Two studies used only male subjects,3030 Ryan M, Grau S, Krauss I, Maiwald C, Taunton J, Horstmann T. Kinematic analysis of runners with achilles mid-portion tendinopathy. Foot Ankle Int. 2009;30(12):1190-5.,3434 Nakhaee Z, Rahimi A, Abaee M, Rezasoltani A, Kalantari KK. The relationship between the height of the medial longitudinal arch (MLA) and the ankle and knee injuries in professional runners. The Foot. 2008;18(2): 84-90. whereas Milner et al.3333 Milner CE, Ferber R, Pollard CD, Hamill J, Davis IS. Factors associated with tibial stress fracture in female runners. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2006;38(2):323-8. studied females. In six studies, men and women participated.2727 Chang WL, Shih YF, Chen WY. Running injuries and associated factors in participants of ING Taipei Marathon. Phys Ther Sport. 2012;13(3):170-4

28 Baur H, Hirschmüller A, Müller S, Mayer F. Neuromuscular activity of the peroneal muscle after foot orthoses therapy in runners. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2011;43(8):1500-6.
-2929 Baur H, Müller S, Hirschmüller A, Cassel M, Weber J, Mayer F. Comparison in lower leg neuromuscular activity between runners with Unilateral mid-portion Achilles tendinopathy and healthy individuals. J Electromyogr Kinesiol. 2011;21(3):499-505.,3131 Donoghue OA, Harrison AJ, Coffey N, Hayes K. Functional data analysis of running kinematics in chronic Achilles tendon injury. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2008;40(7):1323-35.,3232 Donoghue OA, Harrison AJ, Laxton P, Jones RK. Lower limb kinematics of subjects with chronic achilles tendon injury during running. Res Sports Med. 2008;16(1):23-38.,3535 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;38(5):576-80. In three trials, subjects were runners with running distances greater than 32 km/week;2828 Baur H, Hirschmüller A, Müller S, Mayer F. Neuromuscular activity of the peroneal muscle after foot orthoses therapy in runners. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2011;43(8):1500-6.,2929 Baur H, Müller S, Hirschmüller A, Cassel M, Weber J, Mayer F. Comparison in lower leg neuromuscular activity between runners with Unilateral mid-portion Achilles tendinopathy and healthy individuals. J Electromyogr Kinesiol. 2011;21(3):499-505.,3333 Milner CE, Ferber R, Pollard CD, Hamill J, Davis IS. Factors associated with tibial stress fracture in female runners. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2006;38(2):323-8. in one study (Ryan et al.3030 Ryan M, Grau S, Krauss I, Maiwald C, Taunton J, Horstmann T. Kinematic analysis of runners with achilles mid-portion tendinopathy. Foot Ankle Int. 2009;30(12):1190-5.) all volunteers ran at least 30 km per week; in the Lun et al. study3535 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;38(5):576-80. athletes ran at least 20 km/week; the Chung et al. study2727 Chang WL, Shih YF, Chen WY. Running injuries and associated factors in participants of ING Taipei Marathon. Phys Ther Sport. 2012;13(3):170-4 included runners who participated in races of 10, 21 and 42 km; Nakahaee et al.3434 Nakhaee Z, Rahimi A, Abaee M, Rezasoltani A, Kalantari KK. The relationship between the height of the medial longitudinal arch (MLA) and the ankle and knee injuries in professional runners. The Foot. 2008;18(2): 84-90. evaluated professional runners training 2 hours 3 times a week; two studies3131 Donoghue OA, Harrison AJ, Coffey N, Hayes K. Functional data analysis of running kinematics in chronic Achilles tendon injury. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2008;40(7):1323-35.,3232 Donoghue OA, Harrison AJ, Laxton P, Jones RK. Lower limb kinematics of subjects with chronic achilles tendon injury during running. Res Sports Med. 2008;16(1):23-38. did not mention the type of training, but state that all subjects were involved in racing or in sports where running was the main element, and included control group subjects recruited from running clubs.3131 Donoghue OA, Harrison AJ, Coffey N, Hayes K. Functional data analysis of running kinematics in chronic Achilles tendon injury. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2008;40(7):1323-35.,3232 Donoghue OA, Harrison AJ, Laxton P, Jones RK. Lower limb kinematics of subjects with chronic achilles tendon injury during running. Res Sports Med. 2008;16(1):23-38.

Table 2 shows the main features found in nine studies analyzed in this study.

Table 2
Studies evaluating the etiology of ankle injuries

DISCUSSION

The evaluation of factors associated with overuse injuries in runners' ankles had very different objective and methodological approaches in the various studies included in this review; no two articles came up with the same proposal. They diverge mainly in the study population, group choices, evaluation methods, and injury types.

A systematic review study highlighted the differences between athletes with or without calcaneous tendinopathy with respect to the biomechanical profile of their lower limbs during running; the most significant difference was the eversion of the subtalar joint.3636 Munteanu SE, Barton CJ. Lower limb biomechanics during running in individuals with achilles tendinopathy: a systematic review. J Foot Ankle Res. 2011;30:4-15. This point was corroborated in all the selected studies which did perform a kinematic analysis.3030 Ryan M, Grau S, Krauss I, Maiwald C, Taunton J, Horstmann T. Kinematic analysis of runners with achilles mid-portion tendinopathy. Foot Ankle Int. 2009;30(12):1190-5.

31 Donoghue OA, Harrison AJ, Coffey N, Hayes K. Functional data analysis of running kinematics in chronic Achilles tendon injury. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2008;40(7):1323-35.
-3232 Donoghue OA, Harrison AJ, Laxton P, Jones RK. Lower limb kinematics of subjects with chronic achilles tendon injury during running. Res Sports Med. 2008;16(1):23-38. Individuals who used shoes showed greater eversion values than those who ran barefoot.3232 Donoghue OA, Harrison AJ, Laxton P, Jones RK. Lower limb kinematics of subjects with chronic achilles tendon injury during running. Res Sports Med. 2008;16(1):23-38. The comparison of individuals running with and without the use of orthoses agreed with previous data on eversion, ankle dorsiflexion and knee flexion in subjects with Achilles tendinopathy: orthoses reduced dorsiflexion, but increased eversion.3131 Donoghue OA, Harrison AJ, Coffey N, Hayes K. Functional data analysis of running kinematics in chronic Achilles tendon injury. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2008;40(7):1323-35.

In individuals with no history of lesions, Wiegerink et al.3737 Wiegerinck JI, Boyd J, Yoder JC, Abbey AN, Nunley JA, Queen RM. Differences in plantar loading between training shoes and racing flats at a self-selected running speed. Gait Posture. 2009;29(3):514-9. detected differences with respect to pressure peak, maximal force and contact area when comparing runners wearing two different shoe types; they concluded that these differences may be important when one considers the influence of shoe type upon the occurrence of stress fractures in runners, generally.

Two studies by Baur et al2828 Baur H, Hirschmüller A, Müller S, Mayer F. Neuromuscular activity of the peroneal muscle after foot orthoses therapy in runners. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2011;43(8):1500-6.,2929 Baur H, Müller S, Hirschmüller A, Cassel M, Weber J, Mayer F. Comparison in lower leg neuromuscular activity between runners with Unilateral mid-portion Achilles tendinopathy and healthy individuals. J Electromyogr Kinesiol. 2011;21(3):499-505. were elegible for selection. They analyzed the neuromuscular activity by electromyography (EMG), in different situations. One study compared the neuromuscular activity among runners with Achilles tendinopathy vs . healthy subjects;2929 Baur H, Müller S, Hirschmüller A, Cassel M, Weber J, Mayer F. Comparison in lower leg neuromuscular activity between runners with Unilateral mid-portion Achilles tendinopathy and healthy individuals. J Electromyogr Kinesiol. 2011;21(3):499-505. and the other observed the activation of the peroneus longus muscle before and after eight weeks of use of bracing, in runners with symptoms of overuse injury.2828 Baur H, Hirschmüller A, Müller S, Mayer F. Neuromuscular activity of the peroneal muscle after foot orthoses therapy in runners. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2011;43(8):1500-6.

In the first study, there was less activation of the peroneal muscle during weight bearing in patients with calcaneous tendinopathy when compared to controls. But no differences were found in the pre-activation and push-off, nor in the average of the gastrocnemius amplitude values. Thus, the authors concluded that calcaneous tendinopathy does not seem to change the preprogrammed neural control, but can induce mechanical deficits, loss of strength and ligament looseness in the lower limbs during weight bearing, thus affecting articular stability.

In the second study, in a pre-activation condition, muscle activity was higher in subjects who used the bracing after the intervention. However, the authors conclude that the increased muscular activity of the peroneus longus muscle in pre-activation suggests a pre-programmed activity that can lead to better stability of the ankle, providing a possible mode of action for foot orthoses therapy.2828 Baur H, Hirschmüller A, Müller S, Mayer F. Neuromuscular activity of the peroneal muscle after foot orthoses therapy in runners. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2011;43(8):1500-6.

Other studies show that the use of footwear and orthoses does not reduce lesions in soft tissue after intense running,3838 Yeung SS, Yeung EW, Gillespie LD. Interventions for preventing lower limb soft-tissue running injuries. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2011;6(7):CD001256. nor injuries and stress-related lower limb over use lesions;3939 Mattila VM, Sillanpää PJ, Salo T, Laine HJ, Mäenpää H, Pihlajamäki H. Can orthotic insoles prevent lower limb overuse injuries? A randomized-controlled trial of 228 subjects. Scand J Med Sci Sports. 2011;21(6):804-8. This includes a study on the use of bracing in runners with increasing rates of pain in knees and ankles.2727 Chang WL, Shih YF, Chen WY. Running injuries and associated factors in participants of ING Taipei Marathon. Phys Ther Sport. 2012;13(3):170-4 However, the evidence base is not strong enough, because the number of trials is small and the bias risk high.3838 Yeung SS, Yeung EW, Gillespie LD. Interventions for preventing lower limb soft-tissue running injuries. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2011;6(7):CD001256.

Stress fractures are common and serious overuse injuries in runners, especially in female runners. The tibia is the most common site with incidence rates of up to 20%.3333 Milner CE, Ferber R, Pollard CD, Hamill J, Davis IS. Factors associated with tibial stress fracture in female runners. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2006;38(2):323-8. They may be related to the lower end load characteristics during running.4040 Haris Phuah A, Schache AG, Crossley KM, Wrigley TV, Creaby MW. Sagittal plane bending moments acting on the lower leg during running. Gait Posture. 2010;31(2):218-22.

41 Milgrom C, Finestone A, Segev S, Olin C, Arndt T, Ekenman I. Are overground or treadmill runners more likely to sustain tibial stress fracture? Br J Sports Med. 2003;37(2):160-3.
-4242 Milner CE, Davis IS, Hamill J. Free moment as a predictor of tibial stress fracture in distance runners. J Biomech. 2006;39(15):2819-25. One of the articles included in this study3333 Milner CE, Ferber R, Pollard CD, Hamill J, Davis IS. Factors associated with tibial stress fracture in female runners. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2006;38(2):323-8. evaluated runners who suffered tibial stress fracture and noted the significant increase of the vertical force and shock on the tibia, showing the relationship between the history of the injury and the increase in dynamic load variables.

Although some articles enumerate poor alignment as an intrinsic factor related to overuse injuries,22 Taunton JE, Ryan MB, Clement DB, McKenzie DC, Lloyd-Smith DR, Zumbo BD. A retrospective case-control analysis of 2002 running injuries. Br J Sports Med. 2002;36(2):95-101.,1111 Hreljac A, Marshall RN, Hume PA. Evaluation of lower extremity overuse injury potential in runners. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2000;32(9):1635-41.,4343 Järvinen TA, Kannus P, Paavola M, Järvinen TL, Józsa L, Järvinen M. Achilles tendon injuries. Current Opinion in Rheumatology. 2001;13(2):150-5.,4444 Johnston CA, Taunton JE, Lloyd-Smith DR, McKenzie DC. Preventing running injuries. Practical approach for family doctors. Can Fam Physician. 2003;49:1101-9. Lun et al.3535 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;38(5):576-80. demonstrated that there is no evidence that the measures of static biomechanical alignment are related to lesions in lower limb runners, except in knee injuries (patellofemoral syndrome), in agreement with other studies investigating precisely this variable.4545 Raissi GR, Cherati AD, Mansoori KD, Razi MD. The relationship between lower extremity alignment and Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome among non-professional athletes. Sports Med Arthrosc Rehabil Ther Technol. 2009;1(1):11.

46 Wen DY, Puffer JC, Schmalzried TP. Lower extremity alignment and risk of overuse injuries in runners. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1997;29(10):1291-8.
-4747 Wen DY, Puffer JC, Schmalzried TP. Injuries in runners: a prospective study of alignment. Clin J Sport Med. 1998;8(3):187-94.

Little is known about the influence of the height of the longitudinal arch of the foot in overuse injuries in runners. Williams et al.4848 Williams DS 3rd, McClay IS, Hamill J. Arch structure and injury patterns in runners. Clin Biomech (Bristol, Avon). 2001;16(4):341-7. in a prospective study concluded that the structure of the high or low arch is related to different types of injuries in runners. In opposition, Nakhaee et al.3434 Nakhaee Z, Rahimi A, Abaee M, Rezasoltani A, Kalantari KK. The relationship between the height of the medial longitudinal arch (MLA) and the ankle and knee injuries in professional runners. The Foot. 2008;18(2): 84-90. studied the height of the medial longitudinal arch, peak force, peak pressure and the contact area of the foot in static and dynamic conditions, comparing healthy runners and runners with overuse injuries; they pointed out that the height of the longitudinal arch of the foot not is a risk factor for sport injuries. These reports corroborate other studies suggesting that associated factors such as type of footwear, areas of training, injury history, and distance traveled weekly33 Van Gent RN, Siem D, van Middelkoop M, van Os AG, Bierma-Zeinstra SM, Koes BW. Incidence and determinants of lower extremity running injuries in long distance runners: a systematic review. Br J Sports Med. 2007;41(8):469-480.,4949 Wen DY. Risk factors for overuse injuries in runners. Curr Sports Med Rep. 2007;6(5):307-13. can determine the likelihood of injury,1111 Hreljac A, Marshall RN, Hume PA. Evaluation of lower extremity overuse injury potential in runners. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2000;32(9):1635-41.,3434 Nakhaee Z, Rahimi A, Abaee M, Rezasoltani A, Kalantari KK. The relationship between the height of the medial longitudinal arch (MLA) and the ankle and knee injuries in professional runners. The Foot. 2008;18(2): 84-90. whereas improper changes in duration, frequency or "training errors" are the most common causes of overuse injuries in recreational athletes.5050 Wilder RP, Sethi S. Overuse injuries: tendinopathies, stress fractures, compartment syndrome, and shin splints. Clin Sports Med. 2004;23(1):55-81.

CONCLUSION

The etiology of overuse injuries in runners is multifactorial. This review shows that distance, soil type, footwear and history of previous injuries, apart from biomechanical alterations, such as increased dorsiflexion and eversion ankle, as well as knee alterations (greater flexion) are risk factors that influence the occurrence of these injuries. It must however be stressed that published reports on this problem are few and biasridden, on account of lack of uniformity, in terms of the evaluation techniques and in terms of targeted populations.

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Publication Dates

  • Publication in this collection
    June 2015

History

  • Received
    23 Mar 2015
  • Reviewed
    01 Apr 2015
  • Accepted
    25 Apr 2015
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