RISK OF INJURY IN TRAIL RUNNING: A PRELIMINARY STUDY

To evaluate the biomechanical differences between 10 trained trail and matched 9 trained road runners during barefoot (BF) and shod running trials. To determine whether trail runners possess characteristics that are favourable in reducing the risk of running-related injury (RRI) when compared to their road running counterparts kinematic and kinetic data were collected during overground running. Road running controls exhibited greater mean peak knee flexion and footstrike angle while shod compared to shod trail runners. Both groups presented with greater mean vertical loading rate, mean foot pronation (velocity and magnitude) when BF, compared to shod conditions. This paper suggests that road runners may be at greater risk for RRI in comparison to trail runners. Consistent with current evidence, habitually shod runners who engage in BF running may be at greater risk of RRI