The relationship of lower limb injury with obstacle course racing

Abstract

Aim The aim of the study was to explore the prevalence of lower limb injuries amongst Obstacle Course Racing (OCR) athletes and identify the anatomical areas most frequently injured. Moreover, this study aimed to investigate any differences between genders and to assess the possibility of any possible risk factors towards OCR. Method 39 obstacle course racing athletes were recruited from 2 OCR clubs in Malta. The current study employed a retrospective cross-sectional design. Data was collected using a questionnaire consisting of 34 questions. The first section covered sociodemographic data, the second addressed risk factors, and the third focused on the management of injuries and the type of footwear used. The data was than analysed using the Chi squared test, since this test analyses the relationship between two categorical variables. Results The main finding of this study was that all the participants in this research suffered from an injury during OCR training meaning there was a 100% prevalence in the injury rates during training. Even more during OCR competition it was inferred that 17 participants out of the 22 participants who have participated in an OCR competition suffered form an injury. These points highlight the high prevalence of OCR injuries in Malta. Injury patterns were noted in this study however differences were not statistically significant. Some of these patterns concluded in this study include that the incidence of the location of injuries was that most of the injuries affected the lower leg (33.3% in both Male and female). The most common type of injuries was found to be musculoskeletal injuries (71.8%), followed by lacerating injuries including, blisters, macerations, and bruising (28.2%). Furthermore, it was found that the percentage of male athletes who suffered injuries during competitions is 46.2% and exceeds the percentage of female athletes who suffered an injury during competition (42.3%). Furthermore, 45.0% of younger athletes aged at most 35 years sustained injuries during contests, which is higher than the percentage of older competitors aged at least 35 years (42.1%). Finally, it was noted that the percentage of athletes of a BMI considered Normal who suffered injuries during competitions is 50.0% and exceeds the percentage of athletes of a BMI considered overweight/obese (27.3%). Conclusion The lack of knowledge on injury patterns in OCR inspired this study, emphasising the importance of a greater understanding of appropriate training routines to reduce high injury rates. The cohort study of 39 individuals found a 100% injury rate during training. Among the 22 participants who competed, 17 sustained injuries, which aligns with previous research findings. Further investigations and medical study are needed to identify the underlying risk factors that contribute to these injury rates.