Lower limb muscle injury location shift from posterior lower leg to hamstring muscles with increasing discipline-related running velocity in international athletics championships

Objective To analyse the rates of lower limb muscle injuries in athletics disciplines requiring different running velocities during international championships. Design Prospective total population study. Methods During 13 championships (2009–2019) national medical teams and local organizing committee physicians daily reported all newly incurred using same study design, injury definition data collection procedures. In-competition athletes participating involving (i.e. sprints, hurdles, jumps, combined events, middle distances, long marathon) were analysed. Results Among 12,233 registered athletes, 344 in-competition (36% injuries). The proportion, incidence burden muscles differed between for female male athletes. most frequently injured group was hamstring events distances runners (43–75%), posterior leg marathon (44–60%). Hamstring led to highest disciplines, except distance runners. generally higher velocities, velocities. Conclusions present shows discipline-specific location competition context. Our findings suggest that velocity could be one factors play a role occurrence/location injuries.