Co-creation of injury prevention measures for competitive adolescent distance runners: knowledge, behavior, and needs of athletes and coaches enrolled on England Athletics’ Youth Talent Programme

Abstract

This study assessed the knowledge, behavior, and needs of competitive adolescent (16–18 years) distance runners and distance running coaches enrolled as part of England Athletics’ Youth Talent Programme in relation to the prevention of running-related injury (RRI). Two online surveys were developed and distributed to the distance runners (survey one) and coaches (survey two). Both surveys included sections related to: (1) current knowledge; (2) current behavior; (3) need and support for RRI prevention measures; and (4) possible content and form of RRI prevention measures. A total of 39 distance runners (36% of total possible sample) completed survey 1, and 29 coaches (32% of total possible sample) completed survey 2. Key findings included that the majority of distance runners and coaches: (1) agreed that it is ‘very important’ to try to prevent RRI; (2) are currently implementing something in practice (e.g., strength training) to prevent RRI; and (3) view the creation of RRI prevention measures as an important initiative. Differences between distance runners and coaches were identified in relation to their understanding of the most common causes of RRI. Interestingly, distance runners identified a modifiable cause of RRI (i.e., too much training) as the most common cause of RRI, while coaches selected a non-modifiable cause of RRI (i.e., growth and maturation). These key findings were supplemented by competitive adolescent runners and distance running coaches detailing their delivery preferences for such RRI prevention measures. Results from this study will help inform subsequent steps of the larger co-creation process, with an emphasis on developing multifaceted and context-specific RRI prevention measures that are deemed to be feasible and acceptable for real-world implementation.

KEY MESSAGES

• The majority of competitive adolescent distance runners and distance running coaches who took part in this study agreed that it is ‘very important’ to try to prevent RRI and view the creation of RRI prevention measures as an important initiative.

• Alongside this support, interesting differences between the distance runners and coaches were also identified, including, for example: (1) their understanding of the most common causes of RRI and (2) their preferences about where and when to complete RRI prevention measures.

• Results from this study will help inform subsequent steps of the larger co-creation process, with an emphasis on developing multifaceted and context-specific RRI prevention measures that are deemed to be feasible and acceptable for real-world implementation.

Keywords:

• Athletics
• track and field
• youth sport
• athlete health protection
• co-production

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge and thank all of the competitive adolescent distance runners and distance running coaches who took part in this study. The authors would also like to acknowledge the support received from England Athletics.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s). However, please note that the views expressed in this publication are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the NHS, NIHR, or the Department of Health and Social Care.

Authors’ contributions

Developed the funding application, alongside the initial conception and design of the larger co-creation project: RM and AB; Helped in the conception and design this specific study: RM, BC, JD, AB. Took overall responsibility for study delivery, including administration of the online surveys, ensuring data quality, and data analysis: RM; Provided data analysis support: AB; Provided critical interpretation of the data: RM, BC, JD, AB; Drafted an initial version of the manuscript: RM; Subsequently helping to critically review and revise this manuscript prior to submission: BC, JD, AB; Have approved the final version of this manuscript and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work: RM, BC, JD, AB.

Data availability statement

Data are available upon reasonable request. Please contact the corresponding author to arrange access to study data.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by two Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) Impact Accelerator Account Funds (ECM_906171), awarded by the University of Exeter. For the purpose of open access, the authors have applied a Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license to any Author Accepted Manuscript version arising. This work was also supported by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Applied Research Collaboration South West Peninsula.