Cross training for three events – running, biking and swimming – also increases the risk of certain overuse injuries, and an untreated injury in one part of the body can lead to problems elsewhere. For example, a knee injury from running can cause extra stress on the back, leading to lower back pain when cycling; and the cumulative effect of swimming and cycling can fatigue calf muscles, making legs more susceptible to injury during a run. Improper training can be a vicious cycle, resulting in injury and, ultimately, derailing your resolution to compete in a triathlon.

The good news is, most non-traumatic injuries are related to training errors that can be corrected – and an orthopedic physician with specialized knowledge in sports medicine and injury prevention can help.

Train Smart

The best way to avoid traumatic injury is to undertake a training program that balances strength, flexibility and endurance through weight lifting, stretching and cross training. But training techniques are not one size fits all. Each individual has a unique combination of anatomy, strength, endurance and flexibility, so what works well for one athlete isn’t always the best route for another.

Understanding the relationships between musculoskeletal groups related to swimming, cycling and running is key to triathlon training. An orthopedic surgeon can evaluate your physical conditioning, analyze your training techniques and correct errors that can lead to potential injuries, as well as provide important input into a training program optimized for your needs.

Heal Smart

The best training program can’t prevent all injuries. When injuries do occur, there are three things you need to know:

• How to evaluate the severity of the injury
• How to treat an overuse injury
• When to seek professional help

Congratulations for taking on a triathlon challenge. Whether you’re a first-time athlete or a seasoned tri gal or tri guy, training for and participating in the sport of triathlon involves a huge, months-long commitment. Unfortunately, sometimes things don’t go as planned and injury can overturn even the most dedicated competitor with the most detailed training plan.

When the unforeseen occurs, it is always best to seek medical evaluation from an experienced orthopedic physician. Often, if these issues are addressed early on, they can be treated without significant time loss from training and without surgery. An experienced orthopedic physician understands the sports medicine needs of patients and can be an important part of your team, helping you return to sport as soon as possible.

Preparing For A Triathlon

Make a plan:

• Select a competition that’s right for you
• Start your training gradually, begin with short distances and work up to longer distance, faster times and greater intensity
• Consider recruiting a training buddy to help keep you on track with your goals
• Check out websites such as USA Triathlon to locate training groups or routes in your area

Eat Properly

• Consume foods rich in nutritional content and high in complex carbs
• Increase your intake closer to race time, and supplement with energy gels and sports drinks as needed

Choose Proper Equipment

• Research water temps to see if you need a wetsuit
• Make sure your bike chains and pedals are working properly, and don’t forget your helmet
• Wear comfortable training shoes and avoid sporting a new pair that may lead to blisters
• If you experience severe or persistent pain while training, seek advice from an orthopedic physician before a more serious injury can occur

Whether you’re dealing with arthritic pain or suffering from an injury, you deserve the best orthopedic care personally delivered by a skilled surgeon that you trust.

Whether searching for a solution for inflammatory arthritis or osteoarthritis; cartilage or ligament problems; revision surgery, minimally invasive surgery, partial joint replacement surgery, or total joint replacement surgery, you should select an experienced orthopedic surgeon who will work diligently and compassionately to address your needs and lead you step by step from diagnosis and treatment to rehabilitation and wellness.

Hip and Knee Reconstructive Surgery

Hip arthroscopy has emerged as an alternative to more invasive hip replacement surgeries. While technically challenging, hip arthroscopy can help to relieve the pain that results from injury or chronic conditions of the soft tissue surrounding the hip joint.

As one of the few orthopedic surgeons in Monmouth County who regularly performs hip arthroscopy, this procedure is proven to bring pain relief to patients who previously would have required more extensive procedures.  Hip arthroscopy has been a special focus of my practice for the past five years.

The knee is the largest joint in the body and one of the easiest to injure, making it the most often treated joint by orthopedic surgeons.

An orthopedist can use arthroscopy to take a direct look at the inside of your knee joint and determine what kind of repair is required. When used to treat ligament and meniscal tears and other types of serious knee injuries, arthroscopy decreases postoperative pain, risk of complications and recovery time.

You and your doctor may consider knee replacement surgery if you have a stiff, painful knee that makes it difficult to perform even the simplest of activities and other treatments are no longer working.

Minimally invasive surgery has revolutionized knee replacement surgery, requiring a much smaller incision, just 3 to 5 inches, versus the standard approach and long incision. This less invasive approaches results in less pain, decreased recovery time and better motion due to less scar tissue formation.

The vast majority of people who undergo knee joint replacement surgery enjoy dramatic improvement. Once muscle strength is restored through physical therapy, knee joint replacement patients can often return to many activities that were previously restricted due to pain and decreased range of motion.

You are a person with distinctive needs and concerns. Choose an experienced orthopedic surgeon who can answer your questions and address your medical and surgical needs as well as provide resources and support to help you maximize your everyday activities.

Total joint replacement
Total joint replacement is a surgical procedure in which certain parts of an arthritic or damaged joint, such as a knee joint, are removed and replaced with an artificial joint that moves like a healthy joint.

Total knee replacement
If you have very severe arthritis, for example, total knee replacement surgery may be an option. When knee replacement surgery is performed, the cartilage of the knee joint is replaced with an implant.

Total hip replacement
This procedure involves removing the ball and socket of a joint with arthritis and inserting a new ball and socket to allow movement at the new joint.

Total shoulder replacement
This procedure involves replacing damaged bone and cartilage with an implant to improve range of motion at the shoulder joint.

Rotator cuff repair
The rotator cuff helps keep your shoulder anchored and helps it to move. A tear in the cuff can limit your range of motion and cause pain. These tears can be repaired with surgery to relieve pain and improve strength and functioning of the shoulder.

Arthroscopic surgery
Arthroscopy is a method of viewing or performing surgery on a joint by use of an arthroscope, which consists of a very small tube, a lens, and a light source using fiber optics to visualize the surgical area. Orthopedic surgeons perform shoulder, knee and other repairs with arthroscopy. The incision made for inserting the arthroscope is very small, and fewer stitches may be required. The advantage to arthroscopy is a smaller incision heals more quickly and there is less trauma to tissue.

Spine surgery
A variety of problems may lead to spine surgery. There are a number of procedures that can be performed to improve function and remove back pain, and these procedures are done if more conservative treatment, such as medication or physical therapy, don’t work. These include such common procedures as laminectomy, diskectomy, fusion, and spinal decompressions. Kyphoplasty is a less-invasive technique for the pain of spinal fractures often caused by osteoporosis.

Ankle surgery
A variety of problems with the ankles and wrists require surgical treatment. Overuse injuries, rheumatoid arthritis, stress fractures and sprains can often be treated with surgery if more conservative treatment fails.

ACL reconstruction
The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is the major stabilizing ligament of the knee. When it ruptures, reconstruction can be performed in a number of ways, including state-of-the-art tendon grafts.