S. Kunene1,2, N. Taukobong3, S. Ramklass2
1University of the Witwatersrand, Physiotherapy, Johannesburg, South Africa, 2University of KwaZulu-Natal, Clinical Medicine, Durban, South Africa, 3Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, School of Clinical Medicine, Durban, South Africa
Background: Patellofemoral pain is a common knee problem resulting from overuse and impact negatively on the quality of life of many runners. Runners with this problem in under-resourced poor communities in South African presented with high prevalence and risks of patellofemoral pain.
Purpose: The purpose of this study was intended to determine the experiences and rehabilitation needs of runners in under-resourced communities in South Africa.
Methods: The study was qualitative, based on the focus group interview method. Interviews were conducted with 12 runners. They were aged from 18 to 45 years and had a history of AKP. Permission was obtained from club managers and consent from each participant. An interview schedule with predetermined questions was used to collect the data. Two researchers conducted the interview, a facilitator, and a moderator. The interview session lasted for 80 minutes. Audio recordings of the interview session were made, transcribed verbatim, and notes were taken, with the final result provided in a written report. The data approach was thematic and deductive in nature.
Results: All 12 recruited participants participated. The participants were comprised of six females and six males, eight youths and four adults; seven had ≤5 years of running experience and five had 10 years. The following themes and subthemes emerged:
1) The negative impact of AKP on health (physical, emotional and social);
2) Limited rehabilitation services (availability, accessibility, affordability, adequacy and appropriateness);
3) Rehabilitation needs (knowledge and professional intervention).
1) The negative impact of AKP on health (physical, emotional and social);
2) Limited rehabilitation services (availability, accessibility, affordability, adequacy and appropriateness);
3) Rehabilitation needs (knowledge and professional intervention).
Conclusion(s): This study revealed that AKP negatively impacts the physical, emotional, and social health of runners in under-resourced communities. The study also showed that rehabilitation services are limited in terms of their availability, accessibility, affordability, adequacy, and appropriateness, and therefore in the management of running-related injuries in these communities.
Issues such as the need to push for the empowerment of runners through self-help knowledge and skills, as well as to bring them to the realisation that there is a need for professional intervention in order to manage their injuries, were identified.
Issues such as the need to push for the empowerment of runners through self-help knowledge and skills, as well as to bring them to the realisation that there is a need for professional intervention in order to manage their injuries, were identified.
Implications: This study provide useful knowledge that can be used by researchers, clinicians, and sports managers to improve the quality of injury prevention and rehabilitation programmes for runners in under-resourced communities.
Funding, acknowledgements: I thank both the University of the Witwatersrand and the University of KwaZulu-Natal for funding this project.
Keywords: Patellofemoral pain, Experiences, Rehabilitation needs
Topic: Sport & sports injuries
Did this work require ethics approval? Yes
Institution: Univrsity of KwaZulu Natal, Durban, South Africa
Committee: Biomedical Research Ethics Committee
Ethics number: BFC377/15
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
