title: Health professionals' perceptions of musculoskeletal injury and injury risk factors in Australian triathletes: a factor analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study investigated health professional perceptions of triathlon-related injury risk factors and injury prevention strategies, to inform prospective cohort studies investigating injury in triathletes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Exploratory factor analysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  A questionnaire was developed and distributed to Australian sports medicine health professionals (n = 504). Information was collected about their perceptions of factors contributing to injury and injury prevention strategies relating to Sprint/Olympic (S/O) and Ironman/Long Course (I/LC) athletes. Factor analysis was performed to identify the number and nature of the constructs (factors) underlying the responses to the questions, and to ascertain whether these factors were similar for S/O and I/LC athletes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The response rate was 22.4% (n = 113). Five factors were extracted for injury risk accounting for 53% (S/O) and 56% (I/LC) of the variance. The factors were common across S/O and I/LC groups; biomechanics and technique, training factors, demographics, injury prevention and personal factors. Three common factors accounted for 54% (S/O) and 55% (I/LC) of the variance for injury prevention strategies; designated training regimes, health and medical monitoring and preparation of the triathlete.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results indicate that future studies into triathlon injuries should include, at a minimum, detailed training load and demographic factors to test their impact as injury risk factors in triathlete populations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia. Electronic address: cameron.gosling@monash.edu.
authors.forename: Cameron McR
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Gosling
authors.forename: Andrew B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Forbes
authors.forename: Belinda J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Gabbe
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D056352:Athletes; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D001642:Bicycling / Q000293:injuries / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010806:Physical Education and Training; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012420:Running / Q000293:injuries / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013178:Sports Medicine / Q000379:methods*; D013550:Swimming / Q000293:injuries / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014739:Victoria / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult