Cycling
A huge number of our patients cycle either competitively or as a means of transport, we have Physiotherapists and Osteopaths that are specialists in cycling.
We provide cycling assessments so that, whether you are competing in the Etape or simply cycling to work, we know how to tweak body position and bike set up to enable recovery and improve performance.
If you have an injury you need to see an experienced Physiotherapist who will get you back on your bike ASAP.
Apart from those resulting from a fall, cycling injuries are normally as a result of:
- Incorrect body positioning or posture on the bike
- Inefficiencies in cycling technique
- Incorrect bike set up
- Weaknesses or imbalances in the muscles that enable good biking technique
- Stiffness in joints or soft tissues that prevent good bike technique
- A combination of the above
Common cycling injuries include the following.
- Pain at the front of the knee anterior knee pain which can be caused by:
- Pain at the side of the knee could be ITB friction syndrome.
- Pain in the neck or upper back could be caused by incorrect neck posture.
- Back pain, sometimes radiating into the legs could be a number of different conditions.
- Hip pain
Remember, it is important to have your pain fully assessed and treated by a Physiotherapist or Osteopath to prevent further damage occurring.
Please see below for tips on cycle set up and body positioning
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Cervical disc injury
Cervical disc problems include degeneration, disc bulges or disc prolapses.If the discs in the neck become damaged they can bulge out and irritate or pinch the nerves coming out of the neck or the spinal cord itself. This clearly has serious implications, however can often be treated successfully with physiotherapy...
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Disc Problems
Disc injuries cover a whole spectrum of problems including disc degeneration, disc prolapse and a disc bulge, all in varying levels of severity. Minor injuries will feel like a localized ache over the spine; more severe injuries cause intense pain and immobility, with pain, pins and needles, numbness and/or weakness...
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Neck Pain/Tightness
Mild neck pain and/or tightness that comes on slowly is commonly due to the upper back rounding forwards and the chin pointing forwards and upwards, which increases muscle and nerve tension and may cause pins and needles or pain in the arms and hands. Sometimes, breathing becomes restricted due to...
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Sacroiliac Joint ‘SIJ’
Problems in the joint that joins your spine to your pelvis are still hotly debated in the physio, osteo and medical worlds. Strains can occur when the ligaments supporting the joint are loose (e.g. during pregnancy or with hypermobility) and we have seen many patients with SIJ pain following a...
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Hip Clicking
Clicking or crunching in the hip can be caused by a number of things. Most people fear that the clicking is caused by bone hitting bone. However, thankfully nowadays this is rare. If you have this, it is likely that for many years you have been suffering severe pain and...
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Knee Fat Pad Irritation
The knee fat pad sits just behind and to the sides of the patella (knee cap) tendon, below the patella. The fat pad can be tender to touch and can be enlarged, puffy or inflamed.It can be irritated by sudden or uncontrolled extension, i.e. straightening of the knee and if...
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Common Injuries
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ITB and TFL release
Please click here to read how the knee works before reading the following.
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Stretching
A note on static stretching v dynamic stretching I bet you can't remember the last time you saw elite athletes doing a static stretches pitch-, track- or court side pre-performance. That is because research now shows that static stretching is not advisable before exercise. This is because it slows...
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Glut/ VMO/ leg alignment exercise
Please click here to read 'how the knee works' before reading the following. This exercise trains the lateral glute muscle fibres, lower limb alignment, VMO (the inside part of the quads muscle) and stretches the calf so is a big hitter – if you can get it right! You will...
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Foot and ankle exercises
There are a variety of exercises that are great for your feet and ankles including: 1) Foot self-massage exercise 2) Eccentric calf strengthening 3) Foot muscles strengthening 4) Concentric calf strength and ankle instability exercise
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Breathing and relaxation training
Many spinal, hip and shoulder problems can be helped by retraining breathing habits and releasing the structures involved in breathing, such as the diaphragm and thoracic spine.
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How to find pelvic neutral
Please click here to learn how the back works before reading the following. Do not do the following if you have any back pain- you must see a Physiotherapist or Osteopath for a full assessment, diagnosis and guidance through the exercise. Please click on the link to learn how to...
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Exercises
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