Ask the Physical Therapist

While the Omaha Triathlon is a big event this summer, there are so many other popular triathlons our patients have been busily preparing for.  Some of them include:

Pigman (Sprint and Half Ironman) 
Hy-Vee Triathlon (in Des Moines)
Kansas Half Ironman
Chicago and New York Triathlons
Half Ironman Championships in Clearwater, Florida
Ironman Championships in Kona, Hawaii

With all of these events and all the training involved, injuries are, unfortunately all to common.  But what gets hurt?  Well, Cameron Gosling and two colleagues from the Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine at Monash University in Melbourne, Australia sought to describe the rate and profile of injuries seen for medical assistance during a triathlon race series.  

Of the 10,197 starters in a total of six triathlons of various distances ("fun" races, Sprint and Olympic distances), there were 235 total injuries reported. Injury data were collected from individual triathlon participants seeking medical assistance on the day of the race event.

The results indicated that, when all distances were combined:

The foot, knee and lower leg were the top injury sites 
Abrasions, blisters and strains were the top types of injuries
More injuries occurred to the 12-19 year old and, surprisingly, Elite groups
More injuries occurred during the run and cycling legs, with very few injuries occurring during Transitions 1 or 2
And more injuries occurred during the Olympic distance with fewer injuries during the "Fun" distance race

Most injuries that occurred over the course of the triathlon series were minor; however, according to the authors, "race organizers and medical directors should be prepared for worst case scenarios."  The authors also noted that, "The rates in the present study were lower than those previously reported for swimming and running but  similar to those reported for cycling when viewed as isolated activities. The increase in injury rates through the race legs indicates, as has been previously suggested, that training and racing in triathlon may have a cumulative effect with previous disciplines influencing the next."  

Most injuries seen during the course of an event are minor; however, "race and medical directors should be  prepared for more serious injury events, such as near drowning, fractures due to cycling falls, and heat stroke, and have contingency plans to deal with them."

So, for all participants of the August 1st Omaha Triathlon (or any triathlon of any distance this season), prepare for your race(s), but prepare in a smart manner.  Work on swimming technique, bike handling (very underestimated, by the way), running form.  Wear the proper shoes (blisters hurt!).  There are just so many things to keep track of prior to and during the race, but proper preparation cannot be underestimated.