David Höden

Researcher


Injury and illness research: Ironman athletes.


David is this year’s invited “Research with Promise” student. He will be presenting results from his 2017 Ph.D. thesis, the viva voce examination for which is at the beginning of August, at the conference. This study into the most common injuries sustained in Ironman Triathlon, and methods for their prevention, was conducted in conjunction with the Austrian Triathlon Association, the organisers of Ironman Austria and the Casualty Department at the Bruck/Mur State Hospital. At over a thousand participants, his research is likely the most up to date and detailed investigation of training and risk factors for injury in Ironman athletes yet undertaken.

David is a sporting all-rounder who, in swimming, is able to look back upon Regional Championship titles as well as 1st and 2nd place finishes at his National Championships. In 2006 a shoulder injury forced David to end his professional swimming career and since then he has devoted himself to being a trainer and mentor. Inspired by his own painful experiences in competitive sports – he authored a book on the topic “Shoulder Pain in Swimming: Factors, Causes and Consequences” in 2013. He is a state certified swimming and triathlon-coach and is currently working as a Lecturer at the Federal Sports Academy of Graz, the associated University Sport Institute, as well as the Institute of Sport Sciences of the KF- University in Graz. These institutions enable him to share his knowledge and his experience as an active participant in top-level sports with pupils and athletes of various disciplines. As the recipient of numerous therapy sessions he is also able to utilise these valuable experiences in his work as a trainer and lecturer and to transform them into learning possibilities.
Injury and illness research: Ironman athletes.
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