Running coaches and running group leaders’ engagement with, and beliefs and perceived barriers to prehabilitation and injury prevention strategies for runners

Linton, Linda; Valentin, Stephanie

Abstract

Objectives
To identify which pre-and post-run injury risk reduction activities and prehabilitation (prehab) strategies Coaches and Running Group Leaders (Coaches/RGLs) engage in with runners; to explore their beliefs on why runners get injured; to identify Coaches/RGLs confidence providing injury prevention activities, and what they believe are effective for reducing risk of injury; to identify their perceived barriers to including prehab during running coaching/training.

Design
Survey; Participants: UK Coaches/RGLs (N = 100)

Outcome measures
Online questionnaire with open, closed and Likert scale questions.

Results
Most Coaches/RGLs performed active warm-ups (97%), cool-downs (94%),gave injury prevention advice (91%), and advice on recovery strategies (84%) during training. Fewer coaches/RGLs incorporated prehab (67%). Although they collectively exhibited a wide range of knowledge, individually there was less consistency and confidence providing this. Prehab was rated as very important for injury risk reduction, with supervision recommended to facilitate runner engagement. Coaches/RGLs found conflicting advice, time, environment, and resistance from runners as barriers to incorporating prehab into training.

Conclusion
Coaches/RGLs believe prehab is important for runners however lack of confidence and knowledge appeared to limit the wider inclusion of prehab with runners. Coaches/RGLs welcomed reputable information on prehab from evidence-based sources. This may assist in reducing injury.

Citation

Linton, L., & Valentin, S. (2020). Running coaches and running group leaders’ engagement with, and beliefs and perceived barriers to prehabilitation and injury prevention strategies for runners. Physical Therapy in Sport, 46, 54-62. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ptsp.2020.08.004

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Aug 5, 2020
• Online Publication Date: Aug 16, 2020
• Publication Date: 2020-11
• Deposit Date: Feb 8, 2023
• Publicly Available Date: Feb 8, 2023
• Journal: Physical Therapy in Sport
• Print ISSN: 1466-853X
• Electronic ISSN: 1873-1600
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 46
• Pages: 54-62
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ptsp.2020.08.004
• Keywords: Running related injury, Load management, Strength training, Injury prevention