Use of Running Equipment Predicts Running-Related Injury in Adult Runners: A Cohort Study of 7347 Runners From the Garmin-RUNSAFE Running Health Study

Mathias Kristian Pedersen; Frederikke Vestergaard Rasmussen; Ida Lindman; Josefin Abrahamson; Rasmus Østergaard Nielsen

doi:10.1155/tsm2/6630254

Use of Running Equipment Predicts Running-Related Injury in Adult Runners: A Cohort Study of 7347 Runners From the Garmin-RUNSAFE Running Health Study

Mathias Kristian Pedersen
, Frederikke Vestergaard Rasmussen
, Ida Lindman^*
, Josefin Abrahamson
, Rasmus Østergaard Nielsen

^*Corresponding author for this work

Department of Public Health - Forskningsenheden for Almen Praksis

Research output: Contribution to journal/Conference contribution in journal/Contribution to newspaper › Journal article › Research › peer-review

Abstract

Background: Running-related injuries are the most common reason to quit running. There is a gap of knowledge on the use of running equipment as a predictor of running-related injuries in running populations. Objective: To investigate if runners not using equipment while running have a higher rate of running-related injuries compared with runners using running equipment. Design and Methods: Cohort study with an 18-month follow-up, including runners > 18 years old. Exposure was defined as running equipment use, grouped by specific equipment: ankle or knee braces, - tape, insoles, compression socks, jogging stroller, and backpack. Additional groups included participants using multiple types of equipment, those unsure about their equipment use, and those who both indicated uncertainty and selected equipment. Results: Of the 7347 runners included, 3713 (51%) sustained a running-related injury. Runners using knee braces (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.48 [95% CI: 1.14–1.92]), ankle tape (HR = 2.10 [95% CI: 1.44–3.07]), knee tape (HR = 1.83 [95% CI: 1.19–2.82]), insoles (HR = 1.34 [95% CI: 1.20–1.49]), compression socks (HR = 1.14 [95% CI: 1.02–1.27]), or multiple types of equipment (HR = 1.27 [95% CI: 1.15–1.40]) were more prone to injury, while runners using a jogging stroller were less prone (HR = 0.63 [95% CI: 0.39–0.99]). No significant associations were observed for ankle braces (HR = 1.52 [95% CI: 0.90–2.58]), backpacks (HR = 1.00 [95% CI: 0.87–1.14]), runners uncertain about equipment (HR = 0.60 [95% CI: 0.25–1.44]), and uncertain runners who still selected equipment (HR = 1.01 [95% CI: 0.61–1.67]). Conclusion: Runners using certain types of running equipment (e.g., compression socks, insoles, and/or knee brace) while running had higher hazard rates for running-related injuries compared with runners not using running equipment. Owing to the predictive nature of the study, no causal claims between equipment use and running-related injuries can be made.

Original language	English
Article number	6630254
Journal	Translational Sports Medicine
Volume	2025
Issue	1
Number of pages	8
ISSN	2573-8488
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1155/tsm2/6630254
Publication status	Published - 2025

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@article{6589b7f6c2d44d02a1918e43fd8359f3,

title = "Use of Running Equipment Predicts Running-Related Injury in Adult Runners: A Cohort Study of 7347 Runners From the Garmin-RUNSAFE Running Health Study",

abstract = "Background: Running-related injuries are the most common reason to quit running. There is a gap of knowledge on the use of running equipment as a predictor of running-related injuries in running populations. Objective: To investigate if runners not using equipment while running have a higher rate of running-related injuries compared with runners using running equipment. Design and Methods: Cohort study with an 18-month follow-up, including runners > 18 years old. Exposure was defined as running equipment use, grouped by specific equipment: ankle or knee braces, - tape, insoles, compression socks, jogging stroller, and backpack. Additional groups included participants using multiple types of equipment, those unsure about their equipment use, and those who both indicated uncertainty and selected equipment. Results: Of the 7347 runners included, 3713 (51\%) sustained a running-related injury. Runners using knee braces (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.48 [95\% CI: 1.14–1.92]), ankle tape (HR = 2.10 [95\% CI: 1.44–3.07]), knee tape (HR = 1.83 [95\% CI: 1.19–2.82]), insoles (HR = 1.34 [95\% CI: 1.20–1.49]), compression socks (HR = 1.14 [95\% CI: 1.02–1.27]), or multiple types of equipment (HR = 1.27 [95\% CI: 1.15–1.40]) were more prone to injury, while runners using a jogging stroller were less prone (HR = 0.63 [95\% CI: 0.39–0.99]). No significant associations were observed for ankle braces (HR = 1.52 [95\% CI: 0.90–2.58]), backpacks (HR = 1.00 [95\% CI: 0.87–1.14]), runners uncertain about equipment (HR = 0.60 [95\% CI: 0.25–1.44]), and uncertain runners who still selected equipment (HR = 1.01 [95\% CI: 0.61–1.67]). Conclusion: Runners using certain types of running equipment (e.g., compression socks, insoles, and/or knee brace) while running had higher hazard rates for running-related injuries compared with runners not using running equipment. Owing to the predictive nature of the study, no causal claims between equipment use and running-related injuries can be made.",

author = "Pedersen, \{Mathias Kristian\} and Rasmussen, \{Frederikke Vestergaard\} and Ida Lindman and Josefin Abrahamson and Nielsen, \{Rasmus {\O}stergaard\}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: Copyright {\textcopyright} 2025 Mathias Kristian Pedersen et al. Translational Sports Medicine published by John Wiley \& Sons Ltd.",

year = "2025",

doi = "10.1155/tsm2/6630254",

language = "English",

volume = "2025",

journal = "Translational Sports Medicine",

issn = "2573-8488",

publisher = "John Wiley and Sons Ltd",

number = "1",

}

Use of Running Equipment Predicts Running-Related Injury in Adult Runners: A Cohort Study of 7347 Runners From the Garmin-RUNSAFE Running Health Study. / Pedersen, Mathias Kristian; Rasmussen, Frederikke Vestergaard; Lindman, Ida et al.
In: Translational Sports Medicine, Vol. 2025, No. 1, 6630254, 2025.

Research output: Contribution to journal/Conference contribution in journal/Contribution to newspaper › Journal article › Research › peer-review

TY - JOUR

T1 - Use of Running Equipment Predicts Running-Related Injury in Adult Runners

T2 - A Cohort Study of 7347 Runners From the Garmin-RUNSAFE Running Health Study

AU - Pedersen, Mathias Kristian

AU - Rasmussen, Frederikke Vestergaard

AU - Lindman, Ida

AU - Abrahamson, Josefin

AU - Nielsen, Rasmus Østergaard

PY - 2025

Y1 - 2025

N2 - Background: Running-related injuries are the most common reason to quit running. There is a gap of knowledge on the use of running equipment as a predictor of running-related injuries in running populations. Objective: To investigate if runners not using equipment while running have a higher rate of running-related injuries compared with runners using running equipment. Design and Methods: Cohort study with an 18-month follow-up, including runners > 18 years old. Exposure was defined as running equipment use, grouped by specific equipment: ankle or knee braces, - tape, insoles, compression socks, jogging stroller, and backpack. Additional groups included participants using multiple types of equipment, those unsure about their equipment use, and those who both indicated uncertainty and selected equipment. Results: Of the 7347 runners included, 3713 (51%) sustained a running-related injury. Runners using knee braces (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.48 [95% CI: 1.14–1.92]), ankle tape (HR = 2.10 [95% CI: 1.44–3.07]), knee tape (HR = 1.83 [95% CI: 1.19–2.82]), insoles (HR = 1.34 [95% CI: 1.20–1.49]), compression socks (HR = 1.14 [95% CI: 1.02–1.27]), or multiple types of equipment (HR = 1.27 [95% CI: 1.15–1.40]) were more prone to injury, while runners using a jogging stroller were less prone (HR = 0.63 [95% CI: 0.39–0.99]). No significant associations were observed for ankle braces (HR = 1.52 [95% CI: 0.90–2.58]), backpacks (HR = 1.00 [95% CI: 0.87–1.14]), runners uncertain about equipment (HR = 0.60 [95% CI: 0.25–1.44]), and uncertain runners who still selected equipment (HR = 1.01 [95% CI: 0.61–1.67]). Conclusion: Runners using certain types of running equipment (e.g., compression socks, insoles, and/or knee brace) while running had higher hazard rates for running-related injuries compared with runners not using running equipment. Owing to the predictive nature of the study, no causal claims between equipment use and running-related injuries can be made.

AB - Background: Running-related injuries are the most common reason to quit running. There is a gap of knowledge on the use of running equipment as a predictor of running-related injuries in running populations. Objective: To investigate if runners not using equipment while running have a higher rate of running-related injuries compared with runners using running equipment. Design and Methods: Cohort study with an 18-month follow-up, including runners > 18 years old. Exposure was defined as running equipment use, grouped by specific equipment: ankle or knee braces, - tape, insoles, compression socks, jogging stroller, and backpack. Additional groups included participants using multiple types of equipment, those unsure about their equipment use, and those who both indicated uncertainty and selected equipment. Results: Of the 7347 runners included, 3713 (51%) sustained a running-related injury. Runners using knee braces (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.48 [95% CI: 1.14–1.92]), ankle tape (HR = 2.10 [95% CI: 1.44–3.07]), knee tape (HR = 1.83 [95% CI: 1.19–2.82]), insoles (HR = 1.34 [95% CI: 1.20–1.49]), compression socks (HR = 1.14 [95% CI: 1.02–1.27]), or multiple types of equipment (HR = 1.27 [95% CI: 1.15–1.40]) were more prone to injury, while runners using a jogging stroller were less prone (HR = 0.63 [95% CI: 0.39–0.99]). No significant associations were observed for ankle braces (HR = 1.52 [95% CI: 0.90–2.58]), backpacks (HR = 1.00 [95% CI: 0.87–1.14]), runners uncertain about equipment (HR = 0.60 [95% CI: 0.25–1.44]), and uncertain runners who still selected equipment (HR = 1.01 [95% CI: 0.61–1.67]). Conclusion: Runners using certain types of running equipment (e.g., compression socks, insoles, and/or knee brace) while running had higher hazard rates for running-related injuries compared with runners not using running equipment. Owing to the predictive nature of the study, no causal claims between equipment use and running-related injuries can be made.

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105013180877

U2 - 10.1155/tsm2/6630254

DO - 10.1155/tsm2/6630254

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 40860448

AN - SCOPUS:105013180877

SN - 2573-8488

VL - 2025

JO - Translational Sports Medicine

JF - Translational Sports Medicine

IS - 1

M1 - 6630254

ER -

Use of Running Equipment Predicts Running-Related Injury in Adult Runners: A Cohort Study of 7347 Runners From the Garmin-RUNSAFE Running Health Study

Abstract

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