A quick review by our very own, Monique Dupree.
The Run Clever Trial out in Denmark published this article to try and find a correlation between types of running related injuries (RRIs) and types of run training in hopes to help train runners and avoid certain common RRIs.
They hypothesized that increases in running volume (increased total kilometers each week over a 16wk period ) were to be associated with increased risk of patellofemoral pain, iliotibial band syndrome, and patellar tendinopathy. Whereas increases in running intensity (% change in weekly kilometers at intensity equal to or above 88% VO2 max over a 16wk period) were to be associated with increased risk of achilles tendinopathy, plantar fasciitis and gastroc injuries.
Long story short, of the 447 runners included in the study, 41% of the participants sustained a RRI categorized either as intensity or volume related. However, each group suffered from almost equal number of injuries that the authors considered volume RRIs and intensity RRIs. Thus, hypothesis was not supported by estimates of risk differences over the study period. They suggest that when choosing to modify training load, clinicians should consider modifying both volume and intensity.
Read the full article here.