Sprinters Report Poorer Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome Outcomes Compared With Endurance Runners Over the Course of a Competitive Track Season

Abstract

Context: Medial tibial stress syndrome (MTSS) is an overuse injury studied in endurance (ED) runners with minimal data on sprint (SP) athletes. Incorporating patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) into clinical practice with running athletes may provide an objective way to track and treat MTSS. Purpose: To investigate PROMs as a means to monitor MTSS and general wellness in all running (i.e., ED and SP) track athletes during a competitive season. Results: The PROMs overall showed few MTSS symptoms and good global health (mean MTSS score: 0.35 ± 0.85, mean Global Health score: 33.6 ± 3.5). Sprinters reported significantly poorer MTSS scores and Global Health scores (0.544, 95% confidence interval, CI, [0.370, 1.050], p = .04]; 32.50, 95% CI [30.84, 34.16], p = .028) than ED runners (0.04, 95% CI [0.000, 0.041]; 35.5, 95% CI [33.29, 37.65]). There was a main deteriorating effect over time for the MTSS score (p = .047). Conclusions: Sprinters reported more symptoms than ED runners and need to be further researched as an independent population. The PROMs may be useful in tracking symptoms and modifying practices for individual track athletes.