Stress load and injury frequency in trail running

In view of the rough running terrain and the often long distances, trail running is a sport that places high demands on coordination and fitness, which can lead to a high risk of injury. It is known from several sports that a high stress load can promote the development of injuries due to the resulting psychophysiological reactions. In trail running, however, there are still no findings in this regard. The present study examines this connection on the basis of a survey, which was answered by trail runners from Austria, Germany and Switzerland. The first section provides theoretical insights into the world of trail running, running-specific injuries and the basics of stress research. The second part describes the results from the survey and discusses them with reference to the stress-injury theory of sport. In addition, the influence of training volume and specific relaxation measures to reduce stress is discussed.