Severity of Overuse Injury Impacts Self-Efficacy and Quality of Life in Runners: A 2-Year Prospective Cohort Study.
CONTEXT
While 55 million Americans incorporate running into their exercise routines, up to 65% of runners sustain an overuse injury annually. It has been consistently shown that regular physical activity positively impacts quality of life (QOL), an essential public health indicator; however, the impact of running-related injuries on QOL is unknown. This study seeks to determine whether overuse injury severity impacts QOL in recreational runners, and if self-efficacy mediates this relationship.


DESIGN
Community-based prospective cohort study of 300 runners who had been running injury free for at least 5 miles/wk in the past 6 months.


METHODS
Self-efficacy for running and QOL measures (Short Form-12 Physical Component and Mental Component, Satisfaction with Life, Positive Affect and Negative Affect) were assessed at baseline, time of injury, and follow-up visits. Over 2 years of observation, overuse injuries were diagnosed by an orthopedic surgeon and injured runners were referred to a physical therapist.


RESULTS
Injury severity was significantly (P < .01) related with 2 indices of QOL, such that the effect of injury severity was -2.28 units on the Short Form-12 physical component and -0.73 units on positive affect. Self-efficacy accounted for 19% and 48% of the indirect effects on Short Form-12 physical component and positive affect, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Since self-efficacy is a modifiable factor related to decreased QOL, these findings have important clinical implications for rehabilitation interventions.
['Mihalko|Shannon L|SL|', 'Cox|Phillip|P|', 'Ip|Edward|E|', 'Martin|David F|DF|', 'DeVita|Paul|P|', 'Love|Monica|M|', 'Saldana|Santiago|S|', 'Cannon|D Wayne|DW|', 'Fellin|Rebecca E|RE|', 'Seay|Joseph F|JF|', 'Messier|Stephen P|SP|']
D012090:Cumulative Trauma Disorders D006801:Humans D011446:Prospective Studies D011788:Quality of Life D012420:Running D020377:Self Efficacy
running psychosocial assessment social cognitive theory well-being