booth memorial medical center

booth memorial medical center
stay in the medical tent on race day

Adequate training throughout the season is important that you at the start of the triathlon. But what you do in the past few days to the big race can use a big effect on your race results. One of the problems is the triathlete that a bad sunburn the week before the race. A severe sunburn (such as a second degree with bubbles) can have a negative impact on how the body is able to regulate body temperature and sweat loss during training. The sunburn is the skin's ability to control body temperature and sweating and may have a negative impact on the race result. Extra precautions such as sunscreen before and during training and racing or wearing protective clothing may increase the risk of developing sunburn. A water-proof sunblock of SPF 30, that also blocks UVA and UVB sunlight is the best protection for about 2-4 hours, so remember the sunscreen again on more training and racing.

Other problems often seen before the races are usually over-use injuries such as muscle or tendon inflammation strains and viral upper respiratory tract infection. Allow your body to properly recover from the stress of training is important, avoiding or limiting these conditions. In general, endurance athletes experience a higher incidence of viral infections, because high-intensity exercise has a short duration (2 to 24 hours) depressive effect of the body's immune system. Tendons and muscles also need adequate time to get out of the increase in training to prevent chronic injuries.

Each leg of the triathlon is a unique range of injuries or medical problems of race day. With the start of the race more generally with a mass start, injuries are in close contact. The usual injuries from swimming are usually corneal abrasion (a scratch on the surface of the eye) after a few glasses are tapped, and other injuries to the head, as even slight bruising and concussion. Place yourself on the swimming ability and try to avoid the pack at the start of the swim start can lower the risk of these injuries.

The bike portion of the race in the majority of traumatic injuries that are seen. Broken clavicles (collarbones), shoulder injuries and road rash are some of the frequent injuries caused by all the falls. The comfortable and know what other cyclists and traffic around you are doing is important to avoid preventable accidents. Forget the rules, as defined by the race director and bike marshals. Passing the bike should always be on the left side, and not expect the athletes that you overtake is aware that you are.

The most common complaints seen injuries on the run are muscle cramps and blisters. The cause of exercise-induced muscle cramps is probably multi-factorial. There are case reports of athletes known that a high sodium sweat rates, the solution of their muscle cramps after drinking A sodium-electrolyte drink (1). Another recent theory for the exercise-induced convulsions, the convulsions is due to muscle fatigue and acts as a protective mechanism to prevent further damage to the muscles (2)

Bubbles can be due to increased friction and pressure on the skin, and the symptoms can affect mileage. Prevention is essential, and also makes the skin dry (3), with the proper fitting shoes and synthetic socks (4).

Hyponatremia (low sodium in the blood) is a serious disease that has been on the decline recently, but can still be a serious result. This condition usually results from too much water to drink, so that dilution of sodium in the blood. Symptoms in mild cases can cause nausea, vomiting and edema of the hands and legs. More severe cases, with confusion, coma or seizures. The prevention of hyponatremia is to limit the amount of water intake during the race, and with an electrolyte sports drink like Gatorade or Accelerade instead. (5)

Most of the competitors in the medical tent after coming from the goal line. Once over the finish line, they finally stop running, and many triathletes suffer "Exercise-associated collapse" (6). This collapse is typically not by dehydration, but a sudden drop in systemic blood pressure. The muscles of the legs as a secondary pump and help to return blood back to the heart during exercise. Upon completion may be extended. There is a slight delay until the body of the cardiovascular system can compensate for the sudden lack of pumping action of the leg muscles. The treatment for this condition is simply the triathlete with the legs slightly raised above the level of the heart and progressive oral hydration. After a few minutes, most athletes feel better and are able to

For larger breeds, such as the Ironman in Hawaii, the medical staff of more than 200 volunteer doctors, nurses, laboratory Techs and other medical providers such as physician assistants. This figure does not include the numerous volunteer massage therapists, including their time to these events. The medical tent is very busy, with 10 to 20% of the competitors will receive medical care during the day. It's a long day - and before the race, and ends sometime in the usually well after midnight, when all triathletes have.

References:

1. Bergeron, M.F. (1996). Heat cramps during tennis: a case report. Int. J. Sport Nutr. 6: 62-68.

2. Schwellnus MP, Derman EW, and TDNoakes (1997). Aetiology of skeletal muscle "cramps" during exercise: a novel hypothesis. J. Sports Sci. 15: 277-285.

3.Knapik JJ, Reynolds K, Barson J. Influence of an Antiperspirant on foot blister incidence during cross-country hiking. J Am Acad Dermatol. 1998 Aug; 39 (2 Pt 1) :202-6.

4. Herring KM, Richie DH Jr. Friction blisters and sock fiber composition. A double-blind study.J Am Podiatr Med Assoc. 1990 Feb; 80 (2) :63-71.

5. Speedy DB, Rogers IR, Noakes TD, Wright S, Thompson JM, Campbell R, Hellemans I, Kimber NE, Boswell DR, Kuttner JA, Safih S. Exercise-induced hyponatremia in ultra distance triathletes is caused by inappropriate fluid retention. Clin J Sport Med 2000 Oct; 10 (4) :272-8.

6. Holtz Hausen LM, Noakes TD. Collapsed ultraendurance athlete: proposed mechanisms and an approach to management. Clin J Sport Med 1997 Oct; 7 (4) :292-301. Review.

John Martinez, MD is a family and primary care sports medicine physician at the coast with Sports and Wellness Medical Center. Dr. Martinez is currently Medical Director of the Carlsbad (Calif.) Marathon, a team physician with USA Triathlon, the medical care for Team USA at the ITU Triathlon World Championship race. He was on the medical staff for Hawaii Ironman Triathlon, as well as wild flowers, the Norba National Mountain Bike Championships and the Redlands Bicycle Classic. He is also an avid triathlete and has four Ironman triathlons.

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