619 MEP143 – Changes in muscle injury risk according to discipline-related running velocities in athletes

AbstractBackground Lower limb muscles are the most frequently injured structure in athletics running disciplines. The contribution of muscle groups differs between slow and fast running velocities. We hypothesised that injured muscle groups generally vary between disciplines with different running velocities.Objective To analyse the rates of lower limb muscle injuries in athletics disciplines requiring different running velocities during international athletics championships.Design Prospective cohort study.Setting Thirteen international athletics championships (2009–2019).Participants Registered elite athletes (n=12,233).Main outcomes measurements All newly incurred injuries were collected using the same study design, injury definition and methodology. In-competition lower limb muscle injuries of athletes participating in disciplines involving running (i.e. sprints, hurdles, jumps, combined events, middle distances, long distances, and marathon) were analysed. Results In total 344 in-competition lower limb muscle injuries were reported (36% of all in-competition injuries). The proportion, incidence rates and burden of lower limb muscles injuries differed between disciplines for female and male athletes: the most frequently injured muscle group was the hamstrings in sprints, hurdles, jumps, combined events and male middle distances runners (43% to 75%), and posterior lower leg in female middle distances, male long distances, and female marathon runners (44% to 60%). Hamstring muscle injury burden was generally higher in disciplines requiring higher running velocities, while posterior lower leg muscle injuries were higher in disciplines requiring lower running velocities.Conclusions The present study shows discipline-specific injury location during athletic competition. Running velocity could be one of the factors that contribute to the occurrence and location of muscle injuries. The predominantly injured muscle groups seem to correspond to the specific muscles mainly involved to generate running velocities achieved in corresponding athletics discipline. Lower limb muscle injury risk reduction in athletics running disciplines should be discipline- and velocity-specific, and also may contribute to the optimization of running performance.