Int J Sports Med 2003; 24(4): 271-276
DOI: 10.1055/s-2003-39498
Orthopedics & Clinical Sciences
Orthopedics & Biomechanics
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Analysis of Injuries in Long-Distance Triathletes

M.  Egermann1 , D.  Brocai1 , C.  A.  Lill1 , H.  Schmitt1
  • 1Stiftung Orthopädische Universitätsklinik Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
Further Information

Publication History

Accepted after revision: October 25, 2002

Publication Date:
04 June 2003 (online)

Abstract

Triathlon is an individual sport consisting of three disciplines - swimming, cycling and running. Triathlon has changed from a novel appearance to a very popular Olympic sport within the last fifteen years. Nevertheless, there is not sufficient data about injuries in triathlon. The aim of this retrospective survey was to investigate the incidence of injuries according to class of injuries, anatomical sites and disciplines. Relations to age, sex, performance level, training habits and medical care were analysed. Questionnaires were sent to all German speaking participants of the Ironman Europe 2000. With a response rate of 35 %, 656 questionnaires met the inclusion criteria. At least one injury was experienced by 74.8 % (95 %-CI: 71.3-78.1) of all respondents during their active time in triathlon. 51.1 % (95 %-CI: 47.2-55.0) suffered one or more contusion/skin-abrasions, 33.1 % (95 %-CI: 29.5-36.8) muscle-/tendon-injuries, 29.0 % (95 %-CI: 25.5-32.6) ligament-/capsule-injuries and 11.9 % (95 %-CI: 9.5-14.6) fractures. Most of the injuries happened during cycling (54.8 % [95 %-CI: 51.9-57.8]) within training sessions. 18.7 % (95 %-CI: 16.4-21.2) of all injuries occurred while the athletes were competing. Considering the low number of competition hours per year, the incidence of injuries during competition was higher than during training session. Significant relations were found considering the age, performance level and weekly training hours of the triathletes. Older athletes sustained more fractures (p = 0.024), high performance athletes suffered more contusions/abrasions (p = 0.003) and muscle-tendon-injuries (p = 0.001) and athletes with a large number of weekly training hours suffered more muscle-tendon-injuries (p = 0.014). To summarize, injuries in triathlon seem to be related to age, performance level and weekly training hours, but not to sex, presence of training coach and medical care.

References

  • 1 Cipriani D J, Swartz J D, Hodgson C M. Triathlon and the multisport athlete.  J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 1998;  27 42-50
  • 2 Clements K, Yates B, Curran M. The prevalence of chronic knee injury in triathletes.  Br J Sports Med. 1999;  33 214-216
  • 3 Collins K, Wagner M, Peterson K, Storey M. Overuse injuries in triathletes.  Am J Sports Med. 1989;  17 675-680
  • 4 Deutsche Triathlon Union .Geschichte der DTU. www.dtu.org/geschichte
  • 5 Korkia P K, Tunstall-Pedoe D S, Maffulli N. An epidemiological investigation of training and injury patterns in British triathletes.  Br J Sports Med. 1994;  28 191-196
  • 6 Manninen J SO, Kallinen M. Low back pain and other overuse injuries in a group of Japanese triathletes.  Br J Sports Med. 1996;  33 134-139
  • 7 O'Tolle  M L, Hiller D B, Smith R A, Sisk T D. Overuse injuries in ultraendurance triathletes.  Am J Sports Med. 1989;  17 514-518
  • 8 Statistical Programs for the Social Science Windows Package .Chicago, Illinois; SPSS Inc.
  • 9 Vleck V E, Garbutt G. Injury and training characteristics of male elite, development squad, and club triathletes.  Int J Sports Med. 1998;  19 38-42
  • 10 Wilk B R, Fisher K L, Rangelli D. The incidence of musculoskeletal injuries in an amateur triathlete racing club.  J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 1995;  22 108-112
  • 11 Freizeit & Sport Promotions Detlef Kühnel GmbH .Germany. Ergebnisliste 2000. www.ironman.de
  • 12 McMaster W C. Swimming injuries. An overview.  Sports Med. 1996;  22 332-336
  • 13 Mellion M B. Common cycling injuries. Management and prevention.  Sports Med. 1991;  11 52-70
  • 14 Dannenberg A L, Needle S, Mullady D, Kolodner K B. Predictors of injury among 1638 riders in a recreational long-distance bicycle tour: cycle Across Maryland.  Am J Sports Med. 1996;  24 747-753
  • 15 van Mechelen W. Running injuries. A review of the epidemiological literature.  Sports Med. 1992;  14 320-335
  • 16 Hoeberigs J H. Factors related to the incidence of running injuries. A review.  Sports Med. 1992;  13 408-422
  • 17 James S L, Bates B T, Oestering L R. Injuries in runners.  Am J Sports Med. 1978;  6 40-50
  • 18 Tanaka H. Effects of cross-training. Transfer of training effects on V˙O2max between cycling, running and swimming.  Sports Med. 1994;  18 330-339

Dr. H. Schmitt

Stiftung Orthopädische Universitätsklinik Heidelberg

Schlierbacher Landstraße 200a · 69118 Heidelberg · Germany ·

Phone: +49-6221-96-6378

Fax: +49-6221-96-6121

Email: Holger.Schmitt@ok.uni-heidelberg.de

    >