Prevalence and incidence of low back pain among runners: a systematic review.

Low back pain is one of the most common musculoskeletal problems in both the general population and in sport, yet it has not been clear how often it affects runners specifically, or what might predispose someone to it. This systematic review pulled together 19 studies to estimate how common low back pain is among runners and to identify associated risk factors. Across the included studies, both prevalence and incidence of low back pain in runners came out low, and notably lower than rates reported for other running injuries or for athletes generally. Several factors were repeatedly linked with low back pain, including longer running history, higher body mass index, restricted hip motion, leg-length differences, and reduced hamstring or back flexibility.

The authors suggest running itself might even act protectively against low back pain, but this interpretation rests on a wide and inconsistent range of prevalence and incidence figures across the pooled studies, so it should be read as a tentative pattern rather than a settled conclusion.

If you run and have wondered how common back pain is among runners, this review looked at that question by combining findings from 19 existing studies. The short answer is that low back pain did not show up very often in these studies, less often than many other running injuries, and less often than back pain tends to appear in other sports or in the general population. The review also found some patterns connected with back pain in runners, such as running for many years, having a higher body mass index, greater height, not doing regular weekly aerobic exercise besides running, restricted hip movement, differences in leg length, and tighter hamstrings or back muscles.

These are associations seen across studies, not proof that any one of them directly causes back pain. Because the numbers varied quite a bit from study to study, the overall picture should be seen as an early, general pattern rather than a firm answer about your personal risk.

This is a summary of research, not medical advice. Talk to your own healthcare provider about anything affecting your care.

When clinicians are asked how worried a runner should be about developing low back pain, this systematic review of 19 studies offers some context, by synthesising reported prevalence (0.7 to 20.2%) and incidence (0.3 to 22%) figures across the running population. The range itself is wide, reflecting differences in study populations, definitions of low back pain, and methodology, which limits how precisely any single figure can be applied to an individual runner. The review also compiles associated factors, including over 6 years of running experience, body mass index above 24, greater height, absence of weekly aerobic cross-training, restricted hip flexion range, leg-length discrepancy, and reduced hamstring or back flexibility.

These are reported associations drawn from the included studies rather than established causal risk factors, and the abstract does not specify study designs, pooled sample sizes, or formal heterogeneity statistics, so each association should be weighed with corresponding caution. The authors' suggestion that running may be protective against low back pain is an interpretation offered alongside the low prevalence and incidence figures, not a tested causal claim, and the review does not establish a standardised risk-stratification tool or intervention effect. It usefully informs expectations during patient discussions about relative injury risk but does not establish what, if anything, should be done differently in assessment or management.