Causes and Prevention of Running-Related Injury: An Engineering Perspective

Abstract

There is a high prevalence of, and lack of a systematic reduction in running-related injuries. Despite decades of research, there remains a lack of consensus about risk factors and solutions for running injury in the scientific literature. In response to suggestions that running injuries should be viewed from alternative conceptual frameworks, this paper has viewed running from an engineering perspective to suggest causes and solutions based on the 'fundamental principles' approach that characterises engineering. Based on this view, training error, overweight, previous injury, lack of conditioning/fatigue, age, technique and forefoot structure (prevalence of hallux valgus) are suggested to be risk factors for running injury. Engineering-based solutions including technique and footwear changes are also provided to minimise the impact of these risk factors.