Triathletes

There’s no denying that triathletes are some of the most impressive athletes out there. Just thinking about doing a swim, followed by a bicycle ride, followed by a run tires out most people imagine doing it? Triathletes put their bodies through intense physical activity, which is why it’s incredibly important that they are adequately prepared come race day. Next Level Physio actually runs our own Triathlon Club to help athletes prepare for these races and prevent injuries. Unfortunately, there are still common injuries all triathletes need to be aware of.

Because a triathlon involves swimming, biking, and running, common conditions that triathletes face could be all throughout the body. Some of the most common injuries in triathletes include:

• Low back pain
• Meniscus tears
• IT Band syndrome
• Plantar fasciitis
• Hamstring tears
• SI Joint Dysfunction
• Achilles tendonitis
• Patellofemoral syndrome
• Hip tendonitis
• Rotator cuff tears
• Biceps tendonitis
• Neck pain
• …and others

You’ll notice that many injuries sustained by triathletes are similar to running injuries and biking injuries, which makes sense given that both of these sports are part of triathlons. One of the benefits of participating in a triathlon, however, and triathlon training is the cross-training that athletes do. This could help prevent injury by strengthening different muscle groups. Still, there will be times when triathletes get injured. Unfortunately, that’s just the name of this tri-faceted game. For those instances, Next Level Physio is here to help.

We know all about sports injuries and how to rehab them. The key to rehabilitation for a sports injury, whether it’s an injury you got from training for a triathlon, another race, or just participating in another sport is to partner with the right physical therapy team, like ours in Bergen County, NJ.

Physical activity is a wonderful thing. It helps keep our hearts healthy, our blood bumping, and our bones and muscles strong. The possibility of getting injured during any form of physical activity, whether it’s swimming, biking, or running, is real but that doesn’t mean you should avoid it entirely. What’s best is to learn how to perform these sports the right way and to know whose guidance to seek out if the unexpected occurs.

As a triathlete, it’s incredibly important to keep your body in tip-top condition. This means taking care of your knees to prevent things like patellofemoral syndrome and ACL tears, being mindful of your shoulders during your swims to prevent shoulder injuries like sprains and strains, and being especially careful to stretch both before and after bikes and runs. We want those hamstrings to be hamSTRONG so you don’t incur a hamstring strain.

Whether you’re training for your local town triathlon or the next Ironman, Next Level Physio is here to make sure it goes smoothly. Reach out to us today for more information.