The psychology of running injuries: how obsessive passion and perfectionism can lead to overtraining and running through pain, causing more injuries
- People who are obsessive or too perfectionist about their running are more likely to suffer injuries to their knee, foot or lower leg, according to a new study
- Preventive measures include being realistic about your physical limits and expectations, and listening to your body. Don’t put performance over health
People with an obsessive passion for running who seek extreme perfectionism are more likely to be injured, according to a new study.
A survey of 143 recreational runners with an average age of 35 measured running related injuries against a series of physical and psychological factors. These included weekly running distance, foot type, running style, passion, mental toughness and perfectionism.
Conducted over six months, the researchers at Shahrood University of Technology in Iran found knee injury was most common, followed by injuries to the foot and lower leg.
While higher obsessive passion and concern for perfectionism were associated with a greater risk of injury, so were weekly running distance and having had a previous injury.
Researchers were particularly keen to understand the psychological factors related to running injuries to help runners prevent injury.
“Running-related injuries are not solely the result of mechanical factors. Psychological elements, including motivation, pain and fatigue suppression, and exertion, influence training behaviours, potentially leading to excessive and obsessive training that contributes to injuries,” says lead author Aynollah Naderi, associate professor at the university’s school of sports science.
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“This approach to research acknowledges the intricate interplay between mental and physical factors, providing a more nuanced understanding of the causes of running-related injuries and paving the way for more effective preventive measures.”
The study, published in Sports Health, distinguished between harmonious and obsessive passion, which can have a positive or negative impact on running.
Individuals with an obsessive passion for running may feel a compulsive, uncontrollable urge to run at the expense of rest and recovery. This lack of self-regulation can lead to unhealthy exercise behaviour and contribute to a higher number of running injuries.
“This lack of balance and control over their passion for running can lead to overtraining, insufficient recovery, and a disregard for injury-prevention measures,” Naderi says.
Ken Stuyt, a physiotherapist at Momentum HK in Hong Kong, said running injuries rarely had only one contributing factor. He had seen many cases in which people overexert themselves at the cost of their health for a race or performance.
“People in this category can ignore the pain signals that say ‘stop, this is too much’ and push through. This is a double-edged sword, as this trait is great if you are in a race and need to push through signals of fatigue,” Stuyt says.
“Being able to discern between ‘good’ and ‘bad’ pain is critical if one is to be an athlete who wants to push the boundaries safely.”
The ability to distinguish the difference between health and performance is the key to having a harmonious passion for a sport.
“When people prioritise their performance in sport it can be at the expense of their health. This is something I see very commonly. If health was the absolute number one priority, then training behaviours would look very different for these people,” says Stuyt.
“That’s not to say you should never chase performance goals for running or sport, that’s the whole beauty of competitive sport. But becoming a successful athlete means learning about how to deal with musculoskeletal problems properly.”
When coupled with perfectionist concerns, passion can lead to the setting of unrealistically high expectations, causing stress and dissatisfaction even in the face of minor setbacks, the Iranian study found.
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Stuyt says it’s all about how we channel our perfectionism, because people with a harmonious passion have a more balanced approach and are able to put health ahead of performance.
“I have seen many people who were training for an event, sustained an injury, and have been accepting of the fact that they needed to adjust or even pause their running training. To me this means we can be passionate about running as well as looking after our health,” he says.
As the study found, neglecting early signs of injury because of high motivation can exacerbate the risk. By recognising and addressing these psychological aspects, injury prevention strategies can go beyond modifying training load alone.
The research also indicated that following a structured running programme was associated with a lower risk of injury.
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“Runners are encouraged to adopt a more balanced and mindful approach to their training routines, set realistic goals, listen to their bodies, and prioritise recovery. By incorporating these strategies, runners can mitigate the risk of injuries and cultivate a healthier and more sustainable running experience,” says Naderi.
Stuyt says that while the research is an interesting insight into some of the psychological factors associated with injury, it needs to be viewed in the wider context.
“As with any individual study the results don’t inform us of the ‘truth’ but rather add to the overall body of literature in a specific area,” he says.
