ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Low Back Pain (LBP) is commonly reported as a very frequent disorder in sports, but its prevalence in runners remains unclear. OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of LBP in a wide sample of Italian runners. DESIGN: A cross-sectional online survey. SETTING: A national survey, according to the CHERRIES and STROBE guidelines, was performed in 2019. PARTICIPANTS: 2539 Italian runners. METHODS: A sample of Italian runners registered with national running associations was recruited. The survey was conducted using an online survey development platform. The questionnaire was self-reported and included 38 questions. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Descriptive statistics and frequencies were used to analyze results. Relationships between demographics, daily habits and running characteristics and the responses given was calculated with Cramer's V. Only correlation values higher >0.60 were deemed of interest. RESULTS: 2539 questionnaires (63.5%) were valid for analysis. In total, 22.6% of runners reported having experienced LBP in the past year. Most participants (77.0%) reporting episodes of LBP believed it was not caused by running. No significant correlations (Cramer's V < 0.60) were found between LBP and demographics, training characteristics or lifestyle habits. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of LBP among Italian runners was 22,57%. LBP was not associated with training, equipment or lifestyle.
Subject(s)
Low Back Pain/epidemiology , Running/injuries , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Cross-Sectional Studies , Female , Humans , Italy/epidemiology , Life Style , Male , Middle Aged , Physical Conditioning, Human , Prevalence , Risk Factors , Self Report , Surveys and Questionnaires , Young AdultABSTRACT
Mechanics play a critical - but not sole - role in the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis, and recent research has highlighted how mechanical constructs are relevant at the cellular, joint, and whole-body level related to osteoarthritis outcomes. This review examined papers from April 2018 to April 2019 that reported on the role of mechanics in osteoarthritis etiology, with a particular emphasis on studies that focused on the interaction between movement and tissue biomechanics with other clinical outcomes relevant to the pathophysiology of osteoarthritis. Studies were grouped by themes that were particularly prevalent from the past year. Results of the search highlighted the large exposure of knee-related research relative to other body areas, as well as studies utilizing laboratory-based motion capture technology. New research from this past year highlighted the important role that rate of exerted loads and rate of muscle force development - rather than simply force capacity (strength) - have in OA etiology and treatment. Further, the role of muscle activation patterns in functional and structural aspects of joint health has received much interest, though findings remain equivocal. Finally, new research has identified potential mechanical outcome measures that may be related to osteoarthritis disease progression. Future research should continue to combine knowledge of mechanics with other relevant research techniques, and to identify mechanical markers of joint health and structural and functional disease progression that are needed to best inform disease prevention, monitoring, and treatment.
