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Overuse injuries in ultraendurance triathletes
M L O'Toole1, W D Hiller, R A Smith
1Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Tennessee-Memphis.
The American Journal of Sports Medicine
|July 1, 1989
Summary
Ultraendurance triathletes experience a high incidence of overuse injuries, particularly in the back. Training habits did not directly correlate with injury occurrence in this study.
Area of Science:
- Sports Medicine
- Exercise Physiology
Background:
- Overuse injuries are a significant concern in sports, especially for individuals engaged in high-volume physical activity.
- Ultraendurance athletes face unique challenges and potentially higher risks for these types of injuries.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the types and frequency of overuse injuries in ultraendurance triathletes.
- To investigate the relationship between training practices and the occurrence of these injuries.
Main Methods:
- A questionnaire-based study was conducted on 95 competitors of the 1986 Hawaii Ironman Triathlon.
- Data collected included training history and medical history related to overuse injuries.
Main Results:
- A high incidence of soft tissue overuse injuries (91%) was reported in the previous year's training.
- The back was the most commonly affected body area, with multiple areas often involved.
- No direct relationship was found between training habits and the incidence or type of injury.
Conclusions:
- Ultraendurance triathletes are highly susceptible to overuse injuries.
- Potential contributing factors may include mechanical abnormalities like diminished shock absorption.
- Further research is needed to understand injury causation and prevention in this population.