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Study protocol of a 52-week Prospective Running INjury study in Gothenburg (SPRING).

PMID 30018792 (2018): injury, load — Injury risk (study note for endurance athletes).

Last updated/Feb 23, 2026, 11:13 PM

Study note • PMID 30018792

Study protocol of a 52-week Prospective Running INjury study in Gothenburg (SPRING).

BMJ open sport & exercise medicine2018 • DOI 10.1136/bmjsem-2018-000394
Evidence C56/100
Action 2: Consider

Worth trying if it fits your goal and context.

ELI5

In plain language

INTRODUCTION: It is assumed that a running-related (overuse) injury occurs when a specific structure of the human body is exposed to a load that exceeds that structures' load capacity. (review; recreational runners).

In this review, the abstract is mixed or unclear for Injury risk. Treat this as a signal, not a guarantee; confirm methods and context in the full paper.

Takeaways

What the abstract suggests

  • Study question: INTRODUCTION: It is assumed that a running-related (overuse) injury occurs when a specific structure of the human body is exposed to a load that exceeds that structures' load capacity.
  • In this review, the abstract is mixed or unclear for Injury risk.
  • Population: recreational runners.
  • Protocol cues (title/abstract): 15 km.

Protocol

Protocol (as reported)

  • Intervention/exposure: injury, load.
  • Dose/time/duration cues in abstract/title: 15 km.
  • Outcomes: Injury risk.
  • Replication note: abstracts often omit adherence and timing; confirm details before changing training or supplementation.

Fit

Who it helps, and who should skip it

Who it helps

  • Athletes similar to the study population (recreational runners) working on injury risk.
  • Athletes who can measure Injury risk with a repeatable workout or time-trial effort.

Who should skip

  • If you have symptoms or conditions that make the intervention risky, get professional guidance.
  • If you’re near race day and can’t safely test, defer the experiment.

Methods

What the study actually did

  • Design: review.
  • Population: recreational runners.
  • Outcomes measured: Injury risk.
  • Protocol cues mentioned: 15 km.
  • Source: PubMed PMID 30018792 (2018) — BMJ open sport & exercise medicine.

Results excerpt

What the abstract reports

The primary exposure variable is changes in training load.

Note: excerpts are short; for full context, read the paper.

Limits

Limitations & bias

  • Abstract-only summaries can miss critical details (population, protocol, adherence, and context).
  • Reviews and consensus statements mix protocols and populations; recommendations may not match your exact constraints.
  • If your context differs (elite vs recreational; cycling vs running), adjust expectations and be conservative.
  • This is performance information, not medical advice.

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Sources