High prevalence of overuse
injury among iron-distance triathletes.
Andersen C., Clarsen, B., Johansen, T. and Engebresten, L. British
Journal of Sports Medicine, 2013; 47: 857 – 861.
Ironman distance triathlon has recently gained a lot of popularity in both professional and amateur athletes. Due to its endurance character, overuse injuries should occur. Nevertheless, lack of studies is present investigating injuries among Iron distance triathletes.
This was a 26-week prospective cohort study including 174 participants.
Study found that the majority of injury cases in this group were overuse
conditions. The most common sites of the injury were the knee, lower leg, lower
back and shoulder. The average prevalence of overuse problems was 56%.
Study findings seem important for developing strategies to prevent and treat
overuse injuries in triathletes. The knee and lower leg were most commonly
affected body sites and this seems to be in agreement to what running athletes
experience. Patellofemoral pain syndrome, “shin splints”, Iliotibial band
syndrome , Achilles tendinopathy appears to be one of the most prevalent overuse
conditions seen in runners and triathletes. Study results indicate that it
would be advisable for Ironman triathletes to incorporate specific strategies
into ther normal traing routine to prevent knee and lower leg overuse problems.
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