Strava Data & Injury Insights: What 2018 Fitness Trends Reveal About 2025 Health

If you went running or cycling in 2018, you were part of a global movement of 36 million people using Strava. While that data offered a fascinating snapshot of fitness habits then, viewing it through today's lens reveals something even more compelling: how our exercise choices connect to broader health system pressures and injury patterns we see in the clinic today.

Strava's 2018 "Year In Sport" report detailed global exercise trends. Let's revisit its key findings and explore what they mean in the context of 2025's healthcare environment, where hospitals are navigating significant financial and operational challenges.

2018 Strava Highlights: A Look Back at Fitness Culture

In 2018, the Strava community was overwhelmingly active, logging over 280 million rides and 240 million runs. The data revealed clear patterns in how, when, and where people trained.

We Loved Running and Cycling

Globally, the average distance per ride was almost 22 miles (35 km), compared to 5 miles (8 km) per run. This substantial difference in volume and load between the two sports has direct implications for the types of repetition-based injuries a Physiotherapist would typically see in each athlete population.

The Most Popular Running Segment Was in Brooklyn

Segments are a cornerstone of Strava's appeal, creating virtual race tracks across the globe. For running, The Prospect Park 5k - North Start in Brooklyn, New York, was the most attempted segment in 2018 with 98,503 attempts.

Cyclists Loved Dorking

In the UK, a 1.5-mile segment in Dorking with 436 ft of elevation was the most popular cycling segment, seeing a massive 492,520 attempts. The popularity of hilly routes like this highlights the specific muscular and joint demands cyclists place on their bodies.

Older Means Longer

A fascinating 2018 trend showed cyclists aged 50 and above dominating the distance charts, with those 70+ riding more than those under 39. Runners logging the longest average distances were typically between 30-60 years old. This trend of an active, aging population is a key factor in today's healthcare landscape.

The 2025 Perspective: Connecting Fitness Trends to Modern Health Realities

Seven years later, the fitness enthusiasm captured in the 2018 Strava report continues, but it now plays out against a backdrop of a strained healthcare system. Understanding this context is crucial for any active individual.

An Active, Aging Population and Healthcare Demand

The 2018 data showed older adults staying highly active. In 2025, this contributes to a healthcare system managing an older, often sicker population with more complex, chronic conditions. While activity is fantastic for health, it must be managed wisely. An active 60-year-old cyclist is healthier than a sedentary peer, but may still present with knee pain or a tendon issue that requires care. This combination of high patient acuity and volume is a primary driver of rising hospital costs, which grew 5.1% in 2024, significantly outpacing general inflation.

The Shift to Outpatient Care and Its Financial Impact

In 2025, we see a clear and continued shift of patient care from inpatient to outpatient settings. Recent data shows outpatient visits rising 8.2% year-over-year, while inpatient admissions saw a more modest 3.7% increase.

This is highly relevant for athletes. If you sustain a sports injury, you are far more likely to be treated in an outpatient clinic. This is positive for patients but creates financial pressure for health systems, as outpatient care is often reimbursed at lower rates. This pressure can, in turn, impact the resources available for specialised rehab and physiotherapy services.

Rising Costs and the Pressure to Stay Healthy

Hospitals are currently facing a "perfect storm" of financial pressures. Key factors include:

• Soaring Drug Costs: Drug expenses jumped 9.8% in June 2025 compared to the previous year, outpacing labour costs.
• Labor as the Largest Expense: Labor remains the single biggest cost for hospitals, accounting for 56% of total spending.
• Inadequate Reimbursement: Medicare reimburses hospitals only 83 cents for every dollar spent on care, creating massive financial shortfalls.

For the everyday athlete, this underscores a critical message: staying healthy and avoiding injury is more important than ever. It's not just about personal performance; it's about reducing strain on a system under pressure.

A Physiotherapist's Advice for Sustainable Fitness in 2025

Given these insights, how can you adapt the 2018 Strava mindset for sustainable health today?

• Listen to Your Body: Don't ignore niggles. The "no pain, no gain" mantra can lead to longer recovery times and add to personal and systemic healthcare burdens.
• Cross-Train: The 2018 data showed multi-sport athletes found extra time for extra activity. This variety can help offset repetition-based injury and dysfunction.
• Invest in Smart Recovery: Just as health systems must strategically manage resources, you should prioritise sleep, nutrition, and mobility work to enhance recovery and resilience.
• Be a Savvy Healthcare Consumer: Use Physiotherapy and other outpatient services proactively for injury prevention, not just rehabilitation.

Conclusion

The 2018 Strava data captures a vibrant, global fitness culture. By viewing these habits through the lens of 2025's healthcare realities—rising costs, an active aging population, and the shift to outpatient care—we gain a deeper understanding of the importance of sustainable training. The goal is no longer just to log more miles, but to train smarter, prevent injury, and stay active for life in a way that supports both our personal health and the broader healthcare ecosystem.

How do your old Strava habits compare to how you train today? Have you become more mindful of injury prevention? Share your experiences in the comments below!