The Prevalence of Knee Pain and Associated Risk Factors in Malaysian Long-Distance Runners

Abstract

Background: Running is one of the most popular and accessible sports worldwide. Despite its accessibility, running may increase the likelihood of musculoskeletal disorders such as knee pain. There is a paucity of evidence regarding knee pain long-distance runners in Malaysia. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the prevalence of knee pain and its associated risk factors among long-distance runners in Malaysia. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using the Running-related Injury (RRI), the Oslo Sports Trauma Research Centre (OSTRC) Overuse Injury, and the Kujala Anterior Knee Pain Scale (AKPS) questionnaires. The questionnaires were distributed to Malaysian runners through social media platforms using Google Forms. Data were analysed using the Chi-square test and independent t-test. Results: A total of 66 runners completed the study. Approximately 69.7% of runners experienced knee pain, with half-marathon runners being the most common group to report such discomfort. No significant association was observed between any potential risk factors - such as gender, body mass index (BMI), and running experience - and the occurrence of knee pain (p > 0.05). Conclusion: Although no significant association was found between gender, BMI, running experience, and knee pain, a high prevalence of knee pain was observed among long-distance runners. This suggests that knee pain among these runners may be influenced by multifactorial elements beyond the examined demographic and training variables. Therefore, it is crucial to establish greater awareness and implement preventive strategies to reduce the risk of knee injury and enhance runners’ performance without causing harm to their knees.