Alberto Contador And Upper Body Injury Management In The Giro D'Italia

The Giro d'Italia is well underway with a rigorous schedule across 21 stages covering an epic 3481km over the three week period of the race, which is a mammoth 165km every day for the riders. The course will also see 6 mountain finishes, 3 climbing stages, six sprinting stages and a 59.2km individual time trial which will push the riders to the limit. Many will also have an eye on the upcoming Tour de France for those competing in the Grand Tour.

With such a gruelling three weeks it will take its toll on the cyclists with many experiencing complaints throughout the campaign, from overuse injuries to trauma related conditions following a crash or a fall.

Shoulder injuries

Stage six saw Alberto Contador crash resulting in a dislocation of his shoulder, with upper body injuries common amongst cyclists following a crash or fall. Whilst he is optimistic about his chances of continuing in the competition a dislocated shoulder can take time to heal and may even require surgery, as seen with Mark Cavendish at the Tour de France in 2014.

Treatment is dependent on the severity of the condition though it is advisable to seek medical attention in the first instance so that the shoulder can be set back in place and assessed as to whether further treatment is required. An arm sling is normally worn to elevate the arm and immobilise it to limit the chances of further damage being caused.

Wrist injuries

When cyclists fall from their bikes their instinctive reaction is to put their hands out to break their fall, resulting in unnatural and extensive forces passing through the hands, wrist and arms which can result in anything from a bad sprain to broken bones.

A sprain occurs where there is a sudden and unnatural movement of the ligaments within the joint which subsequently become inflamed and stretched beyond their normal range of motion. This can be painful and it is the inflammation which inhibits mobility. The condition is largely self-limiting and following rest and ice to help manage the inflammation you should see a full recovery within a few days. A compressive wrist support can also be used to offer compression on the move.

For more serious injuries and broken wrists, something experienced by Chris Froome at the Tour de France last year, then the wrist will be typically placed in a cast and may even require surgery to pin the bones back in place. Following removal of the cast the wrist is weaker and more susceptible to subsequent injury until strength in the joint has been rebuilt. In this instance a rigid wrist support is often worn to offer compression against inflammation whilst offering much needed stability.

Superficial injuries

Professional riders wear helmets but that is the only safety equipment they use, therefore any crash or fall can lead to superficial injuries such as cuts and bruises. For serious crashes and falls it is always advisable to seek medical attention to assess the extent of the damage but typically you will be bandaged up and be sent on your way, though it may be quite painful for a few days.

Following any injury it is important to stop what you are doing and rest and in the event that there are no signs of improvement following a few days of rest then you should seek medical attention. Obviously where you are concerned about an injury then you should speak with your doctor straight away.

Comments? Questions? Email Here

© HowtoAdvice.com

How to Advice .com