miRNAs as biomarkers of musculoskeletal pain in long-distance runners: the MiMuS study protocol

miRNAs are involved in the generation and progression of musculoskeletal pain, a condition that causessignificant clinical, economic and social burden. In runners, the presence of musculoskeletal pain relatedto an inflammatory state or ongoing underlying tissue damage may result in poor training ability andperformance. This study aims to evaluate the association between circulating and salivary miRNAs andpain in runners with and without musculoskeletal pain and to observe whether dysregulated miRNAscan distinguish between responders and nonresponders to a kinesiological intervention. The possiblecorrelation between these miRNAs and inflammatory molecules, stress parameters and individual orbehavioral characteristics will be evaluated. Finally, in silico analysis will be used to characterize miRNAsfunction. Ethics approval was obtained.