Cyclists: why a physio bike assessment would help your performance and recovery
Would you benefit from a physio bike assessment?
You may benefit from a cycling assessment if you:-
- are looking to improve your performance and efficiency through your bike position
- experience discomfort on the bike e.g. in your back, knee, neck, hands
- are feeling inefficient, or that something is “not right”
- want a check or review of your bike set up and current position
- have recently recovered from an injury and are not sure if it will limit your cycling
What would your physio bike assessment entail?
Your specialist physio-led bike assessment looks at how the body and bike interact whilst cycling. It starts with questioning regarding your riding, goals, training, injuries, bike and equipment, and everyday work/activities. Next comes some flexibility and movement pattern tests, which can help identify any restrictions or limitations you may have on the bike. We then look at you on your bike on the indoor trainer, paying particular attention to position, posture and efficiency of movement. Minor adjustments may be made (saddle, handlebars/stem, cleats), or teaching of correct riding posture or techniques to offload certain structures. Some off-the-bike work may also be beneficial (or even essential), such as corrective exercises for muscle activation, movement retraining, strengthening or stretching, which can be addressed in follow-up sessions.
Have you been injured or do you have any pain?
If you have a specific injury that is troubling you at the time, I usually recommend you have an assessment of that injury with me first, to formulate a diagnosis, identify why it occurred in the first place, and start a treatment plan to get it better. Bike set up is only a small part of a cycling injury. Individual anatomical (structural) and biomechanics (movement) factors, as well as training errors have as important an influence on pain and injury.
Useful cycling info and physio expert tips
More information on loads of cycling related stuff including common injuries and free exercise videos can be found on this website including a basic bike set up.
Get in touch
If you would like to book in for a bike or injury assessment assessment, or have any further questions, please contact me at nicole@pelotonphysiotherapy.co.uk or call 02075838288. To find out more about me go to www.pelotonphysiotherapy.co.uk.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Chartered Physiotherapist
BAppSc MCSP HPC
BAppSc MCSP HPC
Nicole graduated from the University of Sydney in 1998 with a BAppSc in Physiotherapy. She spent the first few years of her career combining work and travel, before settling in the UK in 2005.
Nicole worked for 2 years in NHS outpatient departments and orthopaedic wards, before moving on to London Bridge Hospital. She spent 5 years working in the physiotherapy department of this renowned private hospital, treating primarily a City-based clientele and closely working with some of the top consultants and specialists. She then set up Peloton Physiotherapy at the beginning of 2012 and joined Octopus Clinic in 2014.
Nicole has completed post-graduate training in Acupuncture and Clinical Pilates, as well as attending many Sports Medicine Conferences, including the Ironman conference in Kona, Hawaii, where she also worked in the Medical tent. She has a special interest in cycling, triathlon and running, but also loves a good injury and problem solving!
In her spare time, Nicole can usually be found on (one of) her bikes; she still enjoys travelling, but these days tends to be accompanied by a swimsuit, bike and trainers. She caught the triathlon bug in 2006, and realised that she was more suited to “long and slow” events. Highlights have been qualifying and competing in the 70.3 World Championships in 2009, and completing her first Ironman in 2011.
She now concentrates on road racing, competing in national-level events for Les Filles RT, the women’s racing team that she co-founded. She continues to run on a regular basis, and swims on occasions for the novelty of it.