The Running Readiness Scale and Injury in Collegiate Track and Field and Cross Country Athletes

Abstract

Context Track and field and cross country athletes experience high rates of lower extremity injuries. The Running Readiness Scale (RRS) may help determine which athletes have a higher likelihood of lower extremity injury. Objective To determine if RRS performance at the start of the season was related to the likelihood of experiencing a lower extremity injury during the subsequent track and field or cross country season. Design Prospective cohort study. Setting University. Patients or Other Participants One hundred thirteen National Collegiate Athletic Association Division III track and field athletes in running, jumping, and vaulting events and cross country runners (50 women and 63 men, age = 19.9 ± 1.3 years [mean ± SD]). Main Outcome Measure(s) Athletes were assessed on RRS tasks (double-leg hopping, plank, step-ups, single-leg squats, and wall sit) at the start of their season and were then observed by team athletic trainers during the season for occurrence of lower extremity injuries that resulted in missing 1 or more practices or meets. Adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were used to assess the likelihood of lower extremity injury. Results Thirty-seven athletes (32.7%) experienced a lower extremity injury. Athletes scoring ≤3 on the RRS were almost 5 times more likely to experience a lower extremity injury (adjusted odds ratios = 4.8; 95% confidence interval: 2.1, 11.3) than athletes scoring ≥4. Athletes who failed the double-leg hop or wall sit task were more likely to experience a lower extremity injury (P < .05). Conclusions Track and field and cross country athletes with RRS scores of ≤3 had a higher likelihood of lower extremity injury than those with scores of ≥4.