Epidemiology of injuries in road runners: associations with individual characteristics, training, habits and emotional aspects.

Road running is widely practiced worldwide and frequently associated with musculoskeletal injuries attributed to overuse or overload. Despite its popularity, studies integrating physical, behavioural, and emotional factors remain limited. This study aimed to describe injury epidemiology in Brazilian road runners and explore associated factors. A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted between January 2024 and July 2025 with adult runners using a digital questionnaire covering individual characteristics, training routines, event participation, sleep habits, nutrition, emotional aspects, and injury history. Injury prevalence, incidence per 1000 hours of exposure, and injury characteristics were analysed descriptively, with associations tested using bivariate tests and multivariable logistic regression. Overall, 47.2% reported at least one injury, mostly affecting the lower limbs and occurring during training. In participants with complete exposure data, incidence was 2.29 injuries per 1000 hours. Injured runners were older and had longer running experience. Findings reinforce the multifactorial nature of running-related injuries.  .