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Exploring the use of digital technology for injury prevention and self-management among recreational runners
Kathleen Walker1, Nicola Phillips1, Liba Sheeran1
1School of Healthcare Sciences, Cardiff University, CF14 4XN, Cardiff, UK.
Objectives:
Explore digital technology use among recreational runners in Wales and assess attitudes toward a proposed digital intervention for running-related injury (RRI) prevention and self-management.
Design:
Exploratory survey.
Setting:
Online questionnaire, closed questions distributed to runners over a 7 week period.
Participants:
Recreational runners living in Wales (N = 232).
Main Outcome Measures:
Data analysed descriptively. Inferential analysis conducted via IBM SPSS v25. Pearson's Chi square and logistic regression applied to assess effects of age, sex, and weekly mileage on technology use.
Results:
97% of participants reported using digital technology to monitor training, primarily through running watches (45.1%) and smartphone apps (37.6%). Pearson's chi square indicated that younger (18-24 years) and less experienced runners (3 months-2 years) were more likely to use multiple apps. Runners felt these technologies did not offer realistic advice for RRI prevention or self-management. Most runners (84.5%) were interested in the proposed intervention. Runners wanted to see injury advice, exercises to improve running and a diagnostic feature within the proposed intervention.
Conclusion:
Digital technologies are widely used by recreational runners but are not perceived as useful for injury prevention/self-management. There is therefore an opportunity to develop tailored, evidence-based digital interventions for RRI prevention and self-management.
