THE NATURAL-HISTORY OF EXERCISE - A 10-YR FOLLOW-UP OF A COHORT OF RUNNERS

To determine the pattern of exercise and associated adverse events, in cluding injuries, a mail survey was conducted on participants in the 1 980 Peachtree Road Race Study for whom we were able to obtain current addresses. A total of 535 persons responded, 326 men and 209 women, re presenting 72% of those with identifiable addresses. Although only 56% of respondents reported that they were still running in 1990, 81% rep orted that they were still exercising regularly. The cumulative probab ility for continuing to run was 0.71 for men and 0.56 for women. Injur y (31%) was the chief reason given by men for stopping permanently. Fo r women, 28% stopped because they chose another form of exercise. Fift y-three percent of respondents had at least one injury during the 10-y r interval. The probability of experiencing an injury was associated w ith higher weekly mileage. The knee was the most frequently injured si te. Thirty-nine percent of women and 35% of men reported being verball y assaulted. Approximately 10% of persons were hit by thrown objects o r bitten by a dog. In a group of recreational runners, almost half had stopped running 10 yr later, but over 80% were still physically activ e. Many runners sustain injuries or suffer hazards related to their ex ercise.