In almost every country, warming up is the most common precaution, with 69% of runners doing warm ups of some form or other. But that’s where the similarities stop as, yet again, European runners differ greatly when it comes to other precautions.
Does taking precautions work? Who gets injured?
The Italian and Spanish runners take the most precautions against injury, and this is probably because they have learned the hard way. Thirty-three percent of Italian runners and 34% of Spanish runners blame their injuries on the fact that they kept running while suffering from a minor ache. They also happen to be the top two nations that are currently suffering from an injury.
Runners who currently have an injury
Warming up is the most effective precaution
The Dutch runner is the most serious about warming up: 75% use this as a precaution against injuries and it seems to work as, at only 31%, the Dutch experience the least injuries.