Evaluation and treatment of biking and running injuries

A Primer on Running for the Orthopaedic Surgeon

Long-distance running has become increasingly popular during the past decades. Many running patients pose questions to their orthopaedic surgeons regarding risks, benefits, and running techniques. This article identifies 11 running-related questions that patients may ask and provides information to help answer those questions. This review discusses data on the health benefits of running, common running injuries, the relationship between running and osteoarthritis, recommendations regarding running after orthopaedic surgery, running shoes, and other questions that may arise when treating the running athlete.

A retrospective international study on factors associated with injury, discomfort and pain perception among cyclists

Although cycling has been associated with overuse/fatigue and acute injuries, there is lack of information regarding associated risk factors and prevention factors. The objective of the study was to determine the factors associated with injury, and perceptions of discomfort and pain in cyclists. A total of 739 cyclists completed an online questionnaire between February and October 2016. The questionnaire acquired information on participant demographics, characteristics related to cycling profile and fitness training, bike components and cycling posture, self-reported perceptions of comfort and pain, and injuries sustained in the last 12 months. Logistic regression models estimated odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) that examined factors associated with reporting overuse/fatigue injury, acute injury, body discomfort, saddle discomfort, and pain while cycling. Odds of reporting an overuse/fatigue injury increased when the cyclists complemented training with running (OR = 1.74; 95%CI = 1.03–2.91) or swimming (OR = 2.17; 95%CI = 1.19–3.88), and with reported pain while cycling (OR = 1.17; 95%CI = 1.05–3.69) and not cycling (OR = 1.76; 95%CI = 1.07–2.90). Odds of reporting an acute injury increased when biking to work (OR = 1.79; 95%CI = 1.07–2.86), and decreased with increased average cycling speed (1-km/h decrease OR = 0.93; 95%CI = 0.88–0.97), and compared to low-end bike, with the use of mid-range (OR = 0.25; 95%CI = 0.09–0.72) and high-end bike (OR = 0.34; 95%CI = 0.13–0.96). Although body discomfort was only associated with saddle discomfort and the presence of pain during cycling, saddle discomfort was also associated with biking to work (OR = 0.46; 95%CI = 0.22–0.88). Finally, pain perception was associated with a number of factors such as ride to work, core training, cycling experience, saddle discomfort, pain while not cycling. Numerous factors are associated with injury, and perceptions of discomfort and pain in cyclists. Such factors should be considered when developing training routines, bicycle maintenance best practices, and injury prevention programs.

The injured runner

Running is often recommended by physicians to maintain a healthy lifestyle. As more individuals participate in running-related activities, clinicians must be increasingly aware of common injuries. Training errors leading to overuse are the most common underlying factors in most running-related injuries. Clinicians need to keep in mind that the presenting injury is frequently the result of an inability to compensate for a primary dysfunction at another site. Although imaging may be helpful in differentiating among diagnoses with similar clinical presentations, a detailed history and physical examination are essential in making a correct diagnosis.