Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 24, 2025
Comparative Analysis of Lower Limb Kinematics between the Initial and Terminal Phase of 5km Treadmill Running
Published on: July 17, 2020
Review of Injury Patterns of the 2018 Bank of America Chicago Marathon to Optimize Medical Planning
Valerie Rygiel1, Hallie Labrador, Carrie A Jaworski
1Department of Sports Medicine, Midwest Orthopaedic Consultants, Oak Lawn, IL.
Insights
Marathon medical teams found that musculoskeletal injuries increased along the race course. Medical and wound care issues were most common at the finish line, informing better race planning.
Area of Science:
- Sports Medicine
- Emergency Medicine
- Public Health
Background:
- Effective medical planning for marathon events is crucial.
- Understanding injury patterns during races aids resource allocation.
- Previous data on injury distribution throughout a marathon is limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the volume and types of runner injuries at different points during a marathon.
- To determine how race distance impacts medical resource utilization.
- To provide data for optimizing medical support during endurance events.
Main Methods:
- Chart review of medical records from the 2018 Bank of America Chicago Marathon (N=1016).
- Categorization of injuries into musculoskeletal (MSK), medical/other, and wound care.
- Chi-square analysis to compare injury types and volumes across race quartiles.
Main Results:
- Musculoskeletal complaints were the most frequent overall.
- The proportion of MSK complaints increased progressively along the race course.
- Medical/other and wound care complaints were most concentrated at the finish line aid stations.
Conclusions:
- Injury patterns vary significantly with race progression.
- Anticipating higher MSK injuries mid-race and medical/wound care at the finish optimizes resource deployment.
- This data supports evidence-based medical planning for large-scale endurance events.
Abstract:
Medical planning for a marathon requires an understanding of the volumes and types of injuries experienced by runners during a race. This chart review of medical records from the 2018 Bank of America Chicago Marathon (N = 1016) measured volume and types of injuries at the race aid stations to determine the impact that race distance has on medical resource utilization. The type and volume of each injured runner diagnosis was compared between quartiles of the race using a chisquare analysis. The most common presenting complaints were musculoskeletal (MSK), followed by medical/other, and then wound care. The proportion of MSK complaints increased over the course of the race, whereas the percentage of medical and wound care complaints was highest at the finish line tents. Understanding the expected volume and type of injuries along the course of a race optimizes medical planning and leads to better utilization of resources and staff.
Related Concept Videos
01:20Exercise and Cardiovascular Response
Light to moderate physical activity initiates a series of interconnected responses in the body. The heart rate modestly increases in anticipation of the workout, followed by widespread vasodilation as oxygen consumption by skeletal muscles increases. This results in decreased peripheral resistance, increased capillary blood flow, and accelerated...
01:23Peripheral Artery Disease V: Postoperative Nursing Management