Background Running-related injuries (RRIs) can be considered the primary enemy of runners. Most literature on injury prediction and prevention overlooks the mental aspects of overtraining and under-recovery, despite their potential role in injury prediction and prevention. Consequently, knowledge on the role of mental aspects in RRIs is lacking. Objective To investigate mental aspects of overtraining and under-recovery by means of an online injury prevention programme. Methods and analysis The ‘Take a Mental Break!’ study is a randomised controlled trial with a 12 month follow-up. After completing a web-based baseline survey, half and full marathon runners were randomly assigned to the intervention group or the control group. Participants of the intervention group obtained access to an online injury prevention programme, consisting of a running-related smartphone application. This app provided the participants of the intervention group with information on how to prevent overtraining and RRIs with special attention to mental aspects. The primary outcome measure is any self-reported RRI over the past 12 months. Secondary outcome measures include vigour, fatigue, sleep and perceived running performance. Regression analysis will be conducted to investigate whether the injury prevention programme has led to a lower prevalence of RRIs, better health and improved perceived running performance. Ethics and dissemination The Medical Ethics Committee of the University Medical Center Utrecht, the Netherlands, has exempted the current study from ethical approval (reference number: NL64342.041.17). Results of the study will be communicated through scientific articles in peer-reviewed journals, scientific reports and presentations on scientific conferences.
Background Running-related injuries (RRIs) can be considered the primary enemy of runners. Most literature on injury prediction and prevention overlooks the mental aspects of overtraining and under-recovery, despite their potential role in injury prediction and prevention. Consequently, knowledge on the role of mental aspects in RRIs is lacking. Objective To investigate mental aspects of overtraining and under-recovery by means of an online injury prevention programme. Methods and analysis The ‘Take a Mental Break!’ study is a randomised controlled trial with a 12 month follow-up. After completing a web-based baseline survey, half and full marathon runners were randomly assigned to the intervention group or the control group. Participants of the intervention group obtained access to an online injury prevention programme, consisting of a running-related smartphone application. This app provided the participants of the intervention group with information on how to prevent overtraining and RRIs with special attention to mental aspects. The primary outcome measure is any self-reported RRI over the past 12 months. Secondary outcome measures include vigour, fatigue, sleep and perceived running performance. Regression analysis will be conducted to investigate whether the injury prevention programme has led to a lower prevalence of RRIs, better health and improved perceived running performance. Ethics and dissemination The Medical Ethics Committee of the University Medical Center Utrecht, the Netherlands, has exempted the current study from ethical approval (reference number: NL64342.041.17). Results of the study will be communicated through scientific articles in peer-reviewed journals, scientific reports and presentations on scientific conferences.
Background: Despite the importance of sports injury prevention in youth, no broad scale approaches that work in real-life situations with significant positive effects exist. Main reasons for this are poor uptake and maintenance of current sports injury prevention exercises.Objective: In order to improve uptake of sports injury prevention routines, this project set out to: 1. identify the specifics of current injury prevention programs within 6 European countries, and 2: to establish wishes and needs regarding injury prevention of the end-users (sport coaches, physical educators and youth) within 6 European countries.Design: Semi-structured interviews and focus group sessions.Setting: Youth sports teams and physical education (PE) classes.Patients (or Participants): Interviews and focus group sessions were performed within 6 participating countries (Belgium, Denmark, Lithuania, Romania, The Netherlands, United Kingdom). National stakeholders were interviewed to identify injury prevention programs. The program owners of the identified programs were then individually interviewed. The focus group sessions were organized with youth basketball and soccer players and PE pupils. Separate focus group sessions were organized for basketball/soccer coaches and physical educators.Interventions (or Assessment of Risk Factors): This qualitative study provided input for the development of a freely available ICT based platform with video material of routines designed to prevent sports injuries in youth.Main Outcome Measurements: Overview of country specific results of interviews and focus groups.Results: This study will describe the current availability of national injury prevention programs within 6 European countries. The results of the focus group sessions will establish the differences in beliefs regarding injury prevention in 6 European countries regarding injury prevention.Conclusions: In the coming year, the Move Healthy project will use the qualitative results of this study to develop a freely available ICT based platform with video material of routines developed to prevent sports injuries in youth.