Australian Triathlete - 01.08.2018

AustrAliAn triAthlete | 75

injury prevenTion

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ZAC TURNER

Physiotherapist – DPT, Bed, APAM

Zac is a physiotherapist at Geelong

Performance Physio located

in Geelong, Victoria. Zac first

completed studies to become a

physical education teacher, prior

to his postgraduate doctor of

Physiotherapy qualification at

Bond university on Queensland’s

Gold Coast. With his background

in teaching, Zac aims to effectively

educate his patients, giving them

the tools necessary to achieve and

exceed their physical goals, and

empowering each person to take

ownership of their physical health

and wellbeing.

A firm believer of ‘practice what

you preach’ Zac enjoys a good

physical challenge and trains and

competes in long course triathlon

and marathon running.

Zac has a special interest in

the prevention, treatment and

management of overuse injuries in

athletic populations.

3

DEGENERATIVE TENDINOPATHY

This is the final stage of the tendon overload

continuum and injury prognosis is now poor

due to permanent changes in the tendon.

During this stage cell death starts to occur and

significant disorganisation of tendon fibres are seen.

The tendon may show areas of thickening with palpable

bumps of thickened fibres. Tendinopathy is more likely to

progress to this stage in the older athlete whose tendon has

decreased elasticity or due to repeated overload, and failure

to recognise and address the symptoms in previous stages.

SUMMARY

In summary, tendinopathy is an injury that occurs due to

tendon overload. If not recognised and addressed in the

early stages, the severity of this injury is likely to progress

and poorer outlooks for recovery develop. The nature of the

injury is largely the same despite which tendon is effected,

however the rate and type of rehabilitation incorporated

will differ between tendons. Rehabilitation protocols firstly

incorporate sufficient rest periods between training, before

progressive loading of the tendon to stimulate collagen

fibre regeneration.