Optimising triathlete safety
Blog | May 2, 2017
Towards a better understanding of illness and injury during triathlon competition: optimising triathlete safety, by Dr Courtney Kipps, presentation to the IOC World Conference on Prevention of Illness and Injury in Sport, 2017
Triathlon is a mass-participation endurance sport incorporating swimming, cycling and running stages over a variety of distances.
Overuse injuries during triathlon training are common and have been well studied, but we have rather less information on the rates of illness and injury during triathlon competition.
This information is important because events have a duty of care to their participants. Triathlon medical teams have a responsibility to provide appropriate medical care to manage the reasonably anticipated medical conditions. If we have a better understanding of the true rates of illness and injury on race-day then we can plan the medical care for mass-participation triathlon races more effectively.
Our research has shown that there is a consistent rate of illness and injury across the popular race distances and that triathlon participation carries a spectrum of illness and injury which can be planned for. For example, the potential for collapse should be anticipated in the swim leg,abrasions and significant injuries should be expected on the bike leg secondary to falls, and exertional heatstroke is more likely at the end of the run leg.
As a result, we recommend that triathlon medical teams should be prepared for the exercise-related illnesses and injuries which occur in triathlon competition. Appropriate medical equipment should be available to manage the reasonably anticipated medical conditions. we also recommend that the triathlon medical team should include specialists trained in advanced airway techniques, situated close to swim exit, who should practice retrieval of a collapsed athlete from the water.
Education is important too, because although these conditions are commonly seen in triathlons, they are unlikely to be familiar to medics practicing in standard clinical settings. It is also important to be aware that these conditions can occur in all distances and at any time of the race.
Triathlon organisers should consider these findings during their race preparation in order to optimise competitor safety and medical care at mass-participation triathlon races.
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Triathlon is a mass-participation endurance sport incorporating swimming, cycling and running stages over a variety of distances.
Overuse injuries during triathlon training are common and have been well studied, but we have rather less information on the rates of illness and injury during triathlon competition.
This information is important because events have a duty of care to their participants. Triathlon medical teams have a responsibility to provide appropriate medical care to manage the reasonably anticipated medical conditions. If we have a better understanding of the true rates of illness and injury on race-day then we can plan the medical care for mass-participation triathlon races more effectively.
Our research has shown that there is a consistent rate of illness and injury across the popular race distances and that triathlon participation carries a spectrum of illness and injury which can be planned for. For example, the potential for collapse should be anticipated in the swim leg,abrasions and significant injuries should be expected on the bike leg secondary to falls, and exertional heatstroke is more likely at the end of the run leg.
As a result, we recommend that triathlon medical teams should be prepared for the exercise-related illnesses and injuries which occur in triathlon competition. Appropriate medical equipment should be available to manage the reasonably anticipated medical conditions. we also recommend that the triathlon medical team should include specialists trained in advanced airway techniques, situated close to swim exit, who should practice retrieval of a collapsed athlete from the water.
Education is important too, because although these conditions are commonly seen in triathlons, they are unlikely to be familiar to medics practicing in standard clinical settings. It is also important to be aware that these conditions can occur in all distances and at any time of the race.
Triathlon organisers should consider these findings during their race preparation in order to optimise competitor safety and medical care at mass-participation triathlon races.