TRIATHLETE INJURY RISK ASSESSMENT - run form, strength, and flexibility

The "dog days" of summer training are upon us and on this very rare occasion, we get a little serious. Although putting in long training hours and volume is important for fitness improvement, it's equally, if not more, important to take care of your body – these things wouldn't be possible without healthy joints and muscles. This past week, we gave our favorite physical therapist, Marty Mattox (yes, Miguel’s mother), a visit to asses our functional strength, movement, and flexibility (formally called the functional assessment screening tool) in three parts:

1) strength and flexibility
2) run form video analysis
3) movement quality and injury risk assessment

If you’re an athlete and/or injury prone, this is something we highly recommend. Take care of those niggles before they become a problem!

Our PT: Ultrahealth Physical Therapy - San Francisco, CA - mention “Freestyle Tri” for 20% off your functional assessment screening

Our coach: Conrad Goeringer – Working Triathlete – mention "Freestyle Tri" to get started with a free consultation and no-charge setup

ABOUT US
We’re Jenna and Miguel–

With humble roots as college swimmers and academics, we’ve worked hard to become two of the country’s leading age-group triathletes, and are now on a mission to become professional athletes and content gurus. We swim-bike-run together, eat together, sleep together, do actual work next to each other, and make videos together for our own enjoyment and (someone’s?) education.

Throughout our documented journey, watch how a couple of ambitious 20-something-year-olds work towards their ultimate life goals in a disciplined yet untraditional, not-so-serious manner.

Follow us:

PARTNERS

[rbcism]

Really cool would love to hear about how it changes ur running form and performance! Thanks for sharing

[vassilisspyrou]

You guys should make an equipment and gear breakdown video. Would be cool to see all the gear, bikes and small accessories you use and train with.

[mirtafratnik]

As a PT student, it's funny watching them assessing you and knowing the whys and hows and the science behind. I love your vlogs guys.

[alexanderlatham]

Y'all just have fun everywhere you go, keep spreading the vibes!! Thanks for the inside view :)

[aryansingh]

Really interesting stuff!! It’d be really cool to see a follow up where you show what y’all have changed in your routine post test. Keep rocking it!

[HomeTeamRock]

I think this was informative. Very interesting, great video

[agnidas]

So interesting. Fine tuning the machine :) .
For me as a hobbyist I check my sole wear patterns. It tells quite the story. I check regularly even if the wear pattern is good - because we develop tightness here and there in different places - motion patterns are not set in stone. I keep an eye on it ..
And do my own feel-over and inspections and soft tissue work :P

[cristiansan]

Jenna's picture in the top bar was amazing :)
When you will have the results? what are the recommendations for you guys?

[mikes]

Jenna & Miguel….. Firstly, love your vlogs. You two really make your videos fun/enjoyable and had me laughing several times. Question for you two…. I’ve been struggling with a left heel spur ( assuming from plantar fasciitis)…. It’s been like a month now. I’ve iced, massaged, stretched it, it’s frustrating, because there’s a 50k trail race I want do next year, and it hurts ( my heel ) to run. This will be my first 50k, and was so excited about it. I’m losing weight to hopefully help. Other things as well. Would you two wonderful people have any insight on “ is there way that could speed the healing process for a heel spur “ ? May be something else I haven’t tried. I did read that soaking your heel in Apply Cider Vinegar and warm water really helps ??? I would really appreciate any insight you could provide! It’s very frustrating to not be able to run, when I want to so bad. I’m just afraid I’ll do more damage ….
Thank you very much 🙂👍.

[TomKroupa]

I must find a similar lab in our country :-)

[agnidas]

Looks to me like Jenna has a tight front core causing her to curve her spine like that. It's an issue caused by swimming which doesn't show itself unless you go running or sit for a long time.
Simple test for this tightness is to lie down flat on the floor on your back. Check how much space there is between your lower mid back and the floor. If there is no space your core is not tight at all. If there is a large space you need some soft tissue manipulation to get you to lengthen and be able to lie flat. The running posture will automatically improve :)
<3