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Do general medical practitioners examine injured runners?

A descriptive study led by Solvej Videbæk reveals running injuries to have an impact on the primary health-care system in Denmark.

2017.06.07 | Rasmus Østergaard Nielsen

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Content

General practitioners in Denmark perform clinical examinations of patients with musculoskeletal pain. However, the prevalence proportion of examinations caused by running-related injuries remains unknown. The primary purpose of the present study was to estimate the prevalence proportion of consultations in general practice caused by running-related injuries by distributing a link to an online survey to more than 370 general practitioners.

Results

The survey was completed by 27 general practitioners. The median prevalence proportion of consultations caused by running-related injuries in the past two weeks was 0.80% [25th percentile = 0.00%; 75th percentile = 1.43%]. Ten (37%) GPs reported to refer between 0-24% of the injured runners to additional examination or treatment, whereas 13 (48%) of GPs referred between 25-49% and 4 (15%) referred 50-74% of injured runners.

Conclusion

Although a very small part (<1%) of the GMPs consultations were related to running injuries, this result suggests that injured runners seek advice in the primary health-care system in Denmark. As a consequence, physiotherapists willing to treat runners with running-related injuries may inform the GMPs in their local community about the treatment possibilities they offer. The low response-proportion highlights the challenges recruiting GMPs willing to respond to questionnaires on running-related injuries. It is plausible to assume that the estimates reported in the present study are overestimated owing to selection bias.

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Reference

Videbaek, S.; Jensen, A.V.; Rasmussen, S.; Nielsen, R.O. Do general medical practitioners examine injured runners? Int J Sports Phy Ther, 2017 Jun: 12(3); 450-455.

Research, Health and disease, All groups, Runsafe, Runsafe