Common Triathlon-Related Injuries

If you test your body to the extreme, it’s basically a given that you will suffer some sort of injury. There is no more grueling athletic endeavor than competing in a triathlon. While finishing one can obviously create an incredible sense of pride, there are several triathlon-related injuries that you’ll probably have to deal with at one time or another. Here are some of the more common ones.

Shoulder Pain

A lot of people may not immediately consider shoulder pain among the most common triathlon-related injuries, but competitors know better. You can experience either a dull ache, a sharp pain or something in between. This is, of course, due to the activity you perform during the swimming portion of the competition – especially during the freestyle stroke. You can avoid this problem by using light dumbbells or resistance bands to increase your shoulder strength. If you do experience pain, try to rest the area, massage it and apply ice so that any potential swelling will be kept to a minimum.

Iliotibial (IT) Band Syndrome

This results in tightness or pain below the joint on the outside of the knee. The IT band helps to stabilize your leg, so a problem can leave you hobbled. If you increase your mileage suddenly during training, you can aggravate the band by causing too much friction between it and your femur. Use a roller massage to help stretch your muscles and break down knots if you have an IT band problem.

Achilles Tendonitis

Even if you aren’t feeling a great deal of pain below your calf and above your heel, don’t ignore it. If you don’t have this problem addressed, you could quickly have a chronic issue. You can treat the problem by using a tendon strap to reduce stress and promote healing. To avoid the issue, make sure you strengthen the stabilizing muscles in your lower leg. You should also stretch your calf muscles thoroughly before and after your training runs.

Medi-Dyne offers several products that can help treat some of the more common triathlon-related injuries. Visit our e-store to learn more or call us at 800-810-1740.

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