Postural specifics inherent in Triathletes

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Wednesday, 08 September 2010 13:58

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Postural specifics inherent in Triathletes

The human posture is seen as the base from where one would start with any sports specific analysis. One’s posture is worn day-in day-out, and can’t simply be seen as a garment that can be put on or taken off as we desire. Our posture is affected by our every day life, the lifestyle each person follows and in this case, the sport we partake in.

Posture can be defined as:

‚           …the “attitude” of the body

‚           …the way the body is carried

‚           …the arrangement of the body and its limbs  

‚           …natural body positioning in relation to gravity

Triathlete’s are strange beings, in the way that they can very seldom be picked out from the general public, even though they may be perfectly conditioned, with shaven legs and ripped stringy muscles. Triathlete’s generally don’t fit the profile of a swimmer, nor a cyclist or even a runner, yet they are pretty proficient at each, or should be.

Back in the day, during the years of triathlon beginnings, athlete’s participating could get away with being strong in only one discipline. However, over the year’s and in today’s competitive multi-sport environment, it is required for the athlete to be more than proficient in each of the 3 disciplines, and through the past few years, this strange but incredibly fit and well conditioned human being, the “Triathlete” has evolved.

To take a closer look at the triathlete we look at postural considerations; flexibility; left as apposed to right body symmetry; postural and or muscular compensations; optimal conditioning. As one goes through each of these areas in greater depth, it should make it easier to pick the triathlete out of the crowd, after all, we are a relatively small community in relation to the swimmers and cyclist that envy us.

Within the 3 very different disciplines that comprise triathlon, the body is manipulated into different positions, varying muscle groups are used and altering techniques are adopted for comfort and efficiency, whether it be stream-lining through the water, crouching down aerodynamically onto the aero-bars when cycling or minimizing the ground contact and leaning forward for greater drive and efficiency on the running leg.

Each discipline has its own requirements in manipulation, joint range of motion and technique that need to be adopted so as to move as fast with the least effort, in a comfortable and reduced fatigue state.

For more information, questions or queries on this topic, feel free to contact me at - ryan.live2ride@gmail.com