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Dr. Daniel Wiernik, DPM, of Orlando Orthopaedic Center celebrates after competing in his most recent triathlon.
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Tri Something New This Year
by Corey Gehrold
04/21/2010 — It’s the time of year to TRI something new. Throughout Central Florida people just like you are training their minds and bodies to tackle one of the most grueling, and most rewarding, competitions on the planet: a triathlon. To complete a triathlon, athletes must conquer three components of the race – swimming, biking and running.
You’re not the only one thinking about training for a triathlon this year. In 2007 alone more than 280,000 individuals purchased one-day membership to compete in USA Triathlon (USAT) sanctioned events, and that’s in addition to the more than 100,000 yearly members the organization supports. The average age of a triathlon athlete is 38 with just under 60 percent of competitors being male. Of all participants, roughly 63 percent are married and 49 percent report to white-collar jobs.
The stresses placed on you can be mental, financial and, obviously, physical. While training and competing in your triathlon, you will be able to overcome the mental and financial stresses placed on you. However, the physical burdens may be too much for the body to handle if you aren’t training properly.
“Proper training is one of the best tips I could give anyone to avoid injury and achieve better results at a faster pace,” says Dr. Samuel Blick, MD, of Orlando Orthopaedic Center. Blick is board certified in sports medicine and knee replacement. “When training, do not schedule a race that is closer than 10 weeks out so your body has time to build muscle and prepare for the various stresses you’re going to put on it during the event.”
He cautions that the proper warm up is one of the best ways, in addition to strength and conditioning training, to prepare the muscles for the activity to come, reducing the chance for injury. “The number one problem a person who trains by themselves will experience is overtraining, which in addition to being uncomfortable, can lead to harmful injuries” Blick says. The most common of which include Swimmer’s Shoulder, Achilles Tendonitis and Runner’s Knee.
Freestyle swimming causes the shoulder to undergo repetitive overhead motion which may compromise microvasculature in the rotator cuff, leading to what’s commonly referred to as Swimmer’s Shoulder. “This repeated microtrauma may lead to an inflammatory response which causes pain,” says Blick. Often a result of increased volume or intensity overload with poor technique, treatment usually includes the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and physical therapy if the problem becomes severe enough. “Before you reach the point of needing therapy however we suggest RICE, or rest, ice, compression and elevation of the shoulder,” he says.
“Runner’s Knee, or chondromalacia patella, is one of the most common injuries in runners and cyclists,” says Blick. “With runner’s knee, excessive force causes cartilage to become either softer or rougher which in turn makes the patella glide uncharacteristically over the femur causing pain,” he says. Treatment involves RICE therapy and a decreased workload.
“Remember that knee pain experienced during activity is more serious than pain experienced after activity. Any sign that the knee is ‘giving out’ can be bad as well because that means one of the stabilizing components of the knee, such as a ligament, is compromised,” says Blick.
One of the most common overuse injuries resulting from an increase in training intensity is Achilles Tendonitis. “Many cases of tendonitis occur in the ankle because the muscles in the calf have tendons that cross the ankle,” says recent sprint triathlon competitor and Eastwood resident, Dr. Daniel Wiernik, DPM, Orlando Orthopaedic Center and specialist in foot and ankle surgery. “Improper shoes and increasing distance or intensity too fast are major causes,” he says. “A heel pad, ice and stretching can help, but if the problem continues or worsens you should see a specialist.”
There you have it -- some of the most common injuries experienced by the inexperienced triathlon athlete while training. Remember that before beginning any training regimen, you should always consult with a qualified sports medicine doctor.
“I enjoy training and competing in triathlons because it is challenging but also a lot of fun,” says Wiernik. “The satisfaction of crossing the finish line keeps me coming back for more.”
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