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Mend Physical Therapy Blog and Injury Information

Triathlon is one of the more popular sports in Boulder with individuals training at all competitive levels and distances. Depending on their competitive level and distance athletes will commonly train up to 25 hours per week for their upcoming races. Surprisingly authors reports only half of triathletes utilize strength training in their weekly hours secondary...

Triathlon athletes have varying distances to compete in from shorter sprint races to longer Ironman distance events.  As the events progress from sprint to Olympic to Ironman distance the percentage of time spent in each discipline (swim, bike, run) adjusts with the distance.  Research has shown when comparing the Olympic and Ironman distances athletes will...

Among Boulder endurance athletes many training variables are utilized to promote beneficial adaptations within our bodies.  These adaptations to the cardiovascular and musculoskeletal systems lead to improved future performances in practice and competitions.  One training variable includes interval training where athletes complete portions of endurance exercise at a high intensity followed by a recovery period....

Swimming is the opening leg of the triathlon race and many athletes utilize this leg to establish position for the upcoming bike and run events of the competition.  Swimming remains the hardest and often most dreaded of the 3 triathlon components for many competitors.  For this group of competitors, a race strategy for the swim...

Triathletes have no shortage of aerobic exercise each week as they train for all 3 components of their sport, but often what they leave out is strength training.  Strength training has been shown to reduce injury risk and improve performance in swimming, cycling, and running.  The impact of this training is most noticeable in the...

As the triathlon off season carries forward into the Spring athletes should be focused on the evaluation, treatment, and/or prevention of last season’s nagging injuries.  Specifically, athletes competing in Triathlon should see a reduction in their endurance training and a corresponding increase in weight training.  The additional time placed on weight training in the off...