The prevalence of knee pain and associated risk factors in Malaysian long-distance runners

Mohamad Ikhwan, Nur Atikah and Mustapa, Nurul Amirah (2026) The prevalence of knee pain and associated risk factors in Malaysian long-distance runners. International Journal of Allied Health Sciences, 10 (1). pp. 3293-3299. E-ISSN 2600-8491

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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 among 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. However, the relatively small sample size may have limited the statistical power to detect true associations. Future studies with larger, more representative samples are recommended to strengthen the evidence.

Item Type:	Article (Journal)
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Knee pain; marathon running; risk factors
Subjects:	L Education > L Education (General)
Kulliyyahs/Centres/Divisions/Institutes (Can select more than one option. Press CONTROL button):	Kulliyyah of Allied Health Sciences Kulliyyah of Allied Health Sciences > Department of Physical Rehabilitation Sciences
Depositing User:	Sr Nurul Amirah Mustapa
Date Deposited:	26 Jun 2026 17:03
Last Modified:	26 Jun 2026 17:03
Queue Number:	2026-06-Q3844
URI:	http://irep.iium.edu.my/id/eprint/129618

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