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Running coaches and running group leaders' engagement with, and beliefs and perceived barriers to prehabilitation and injury prevention strategies for runners.

PMID 32871363 (2020): running, coaches — Injury risk (study note for endurance athletes).

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

Study note • PMID 32871363

Running coaches and running group leaders' engagement with, and beliefs and perceived barriers to prehabilitation and injury prevention strategies for runners.

Physical therapy in sport : official journal of the Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Sports Medicine2020 • DOI 10.1016/j.ptsp.2020.08.004
Evidence D54/100
Action 3: Experiment carefully

Useful, but technique/population sensitive.

ELI5

In plain language

To identify which pre-and post-run injury risk reduction activities and prehabilitation (prehab) strategies Coaches and Running Group Leaders (Coaches/RGLs) engage in with runners; to explore their beliefs on why… (controlled study; n=100 runners).

Effects on Injury risk are mixed or unclear from the abstract alone. Treat this as a signal, not a guarantee; confirm methods and context in the full paper.

Takeaways

What the abstract suggests

  • Study question: To identify which pre-and post-run injury risk reduction activities and prehabilitation (prehab) strategies Coaches and Running Group Leaders (Coaches/RGLs) engage in with runners; to explore their beliefs on why…
  • Effects on Injury risk are mixed or unclear from the abstract alone.
  • Population: n=100 runners.
  • Protocol cues: abstract may omit dose/timing; use the full paper to replicate accurately.

Protocol

Protocol (as reported)

  • Intervention/exposure: running, coaches.
  • Dose/time/duration: abstract doesn’t include enough detail; use the full paper’s methods section.
  • 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 (n=100 runners) working on mobility.
  • 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: controlled study.
  • Population: n=100 runners.
  • Outcomes measured: Injury risk.
  • Source: PubMed PMID 32871363 (2020) — Physical therapy in sport : official journal of the Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Sports Medicine.

Results excerpt

What the abstract reports

Fewer coaches/RGLs incorporated prehab (67%).

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).
  • Single studies often don’t generalize to your event, history, and training load; treat results as a starting point.
  • 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