Thinking About Trying out a Triathlon? This Austin Sports Medicine Doctor Talks Race Day Tips and Common Injuries to Avoid

• 

Austin Sports Medicine - Medicine in Motion

Austin, TX (PRWEB) May 13, 2014

Triathlons are fun community and/or competitive sporting events that focus primarily on endurance. Athletes first swim, then bike and finally run to the finish. A group can participate in a relay with each person doing only one or two sections of the event.

Triathlons come in different sizes. Sprint triathlons typically include a half mile swim, 12 mile bike ride and 5k run. Olympic triathlons are basically double that. And the big daddy Ironman race consists of a 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike ride and 26.2 mile run.

“Our team is the primary medical provider for the majority of triathlons in the greater Austin area, so we’ve seen and treated almost every type of triathlon-related injury,” said Dr. Martha Pyron, Austin sports medicine doctor and owner of Medicine in Motion. “Triathlons are generally very safe and athletes typically incur few injuries—with proper training and preparation, anyone can participate successfully.”

During training, overuse injuries such as tendinitis and stress fractures are common but can be avoided with a proper training schedule and coaching.

During race day, many first-time event swimmers have a bit of anxiety. Sometimes this is severe enough to stop them from competing. However, the more open-water swims attempted in advance of the event, the less likely this will occur. Other swim injuries include trauma from being accidentally kicked in the water and even near drowning if the event is too crowded or there is tumultuous weather.

The cycling portion of the race is hallmarked by problems related to bike accidents. Commonplace injuries include concussions, broken collar bones and wrists, and a lot of "road rash"—the scraped skin seen after skin and road come into contact during a fall.

The run is generally the safest part of the day. However, it also occurs last and, therefore, in the hotter part of the day. A lot of heat illness and dehydration can happen during this part of the race. Sometimes IV fluids are necessary to bring the athlete back to good health. Rarely, underlying heart problems present during the run portion of the event.

Despite the possible injuries listed above, triathlons are safe and fun to participate in. For athletes looking for new experiences or to stretch their competitive muscles, consider trying a tri. The triathlon season finishes in October, so don’t delay—look for a race that fits your schedule and give it a “tri!”

Medicine in Motion (MIM) specializes in providing top quality sports medicine in Austin, Texas, for athletic individuals of all ages and levels. The doctors at MIM believe active bodies are healthy bodies, therefore it is the office's goal to keep patients energetic and fit. To that end, MIM provides treatment of injuries and illnesses, including the use of physical rehabilitation; promotes healthy living with personal training and nutrition coaching; and offers comprehensive sports medicine evaluations to optimize health, activity level and sports performance. For more information or for questions regarding sports medicine in Austin, contact Medicine in Motion at 512-257-2500 or visit the website at http://www.medinmotion.com.

PDF Print