Musculoskeletal injuries in a six-day track race: ultramarathoner's ankle.

OBJECTIVE

To document injuries during a 6-day track race (in which direction was reversed every 2 hours) and compare these injuries with those incurred during other ultra-marathon track and road races, and to investigate a characteristic ultra-marathon injury, tendonitis of the ankle dorsiflexors.

DESIGN

A prospective, cohort study of competitors during a 6-day race.

SETTING

400-m grass track in Colac, Victoria.

PARTICIPANTS

All 17 competitors (16 men and 1 woman).

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Total numbers and percentages of specific musculoskeletal injuries.

RESULTS

A total of 36 injuries were recorded in 11 competitors. The ankle (36%) and the knee (22%) were the regions most frequently injured. The four most common diagnoses were: Achilles tendonitis (19%); extensor digitorum longus tendonitis (14%); retropatellar pain syndrome (14%); and anterior compartment pain (11%).

CONCLUSION

Achilles tendonitis, patellofemoral pain, and tendonitis of the foot dorsiflexors are the three most common injuries in ultra-marathons of 6 days or more. Ankle injuries predominate in track races, whereas knee injuries are more common in road races. Road races are associated with higher frequency of injury to the leg on the downside of the camber. Track races have an even distribution of injury. Confirmation is presented that the characteristic ultra-marathon injury is tendonitis of the foot dorsiflexors.