Unfortunately, as with all sports, injuries are a reality for many cyclists. While cycling is an excellent low impact cardio workout, riding can lead to wear and tear on the body.
Today, we’ll look at 3 of the most common cycling injuries:
- Knee pain
- Lower back
- Achilles Tendonitis and Ankle Pain
We’ll also look at things you can do in your cycling routine to keep your body free from injury and pain.
Knee Pain
Cycling puts a lot of stress on knees due to the forces generated and the repetitive action while attached to the bike at the feet and saddle.
Many cyclists don’t realise how many revolutions of the pedal they do in a week and any errors in bike set-up or in the musculoskeletal system can rapidly turn into sore and debilitating knees which can force you off the bike.
The great news is that most knee pain in cycling can be sorted out with correct positioning of the bike and cleats and a thorough assessment of the cyclist to identify any additional problems in the body.
The key to this is to act as soon as you get pain! Don’t wait until things get so bad that you can’t ride- get in touch with a qualified physiotherapist and bikefit professional to ease your pain and have you loving your cycling again in no time!
Lower Back Pain
Cycling causes your body to be in the same position for lengthy periods of time, with a lot of stress being placed on the spine, due to the un-natural posture of riding. This can lead to lower back pain for many riders.
To prevent lower back pain, it’s crucial that your bike is a proper fit for your body. If your bike frame is too large you could be overreaching; too small and you’ll be hunched over. Both will lead to back trouble.
The great news is that most bikes are adjustable, and most bodies are adaptable! You just need to find the perfect balance with the right bikefit position for you!
Try and avoid lower back pain and prevent it from happening in the first place – have your bike professionally fitted by a professional physiotherapist and bike fitter.
Achilles Tendonitis
Another injury common to cyclists is Achilles tendonitis. This is an overuse injury, caused by wear and tear through riding, rather than a sudden tear or rupture. While often actually caused off the bike in cross training and running, it can be exacerbated while cycling.
Having a bike saddle that is too high or having ill-fitting cleats can contribute to Achilles tendonitis, so again, make sure your bike is the best fit for you with a professional bike fitting.
Professional Bike Fitting for Perth Cyclists
As you can see, having your bike professionally fitted by a qualified bike fitter and physiotherapist is the key to reducing injury and pain from cycling.
Perth’s Star Physio team can complete a professional Bikefit for you, getting you ready to ride longer, better and pain-free. Bikefit ensures ideal positioning that maximises your athletic input while minimising impact on vulnerable parts of the body.
To organise your own bikefit, or for some physio relief, call your nearest clinic or fill out our quick online form.