Although it is a non-impact sport, cycling can lead to a number of common sporting injuries. Below are some of the more common injuries that cyclists may suffer from.
Usually a result of increased pelvic and lower back tightness, or an ill-fitting bike. Aching/pain often builds as the ride progresses, although sometimes pain is only experienced after the ride.
Action: Check your bike set-up, if it has been set-up correctly try the following; pelvic and spinal stretching and ideally some lower back stability exercise. Together these can often cure this type of problem.
Stretches: Hip flexors, glutei and piriformis, lateral glutei, and IlioTibial-Band (ITB).
Muscles to strengthen are: Lumbar erector spine, glutei, transverse abdominous
“ Although it is a nonimpact sport, cycling can lead to a number of common sporting injuries such as Lower back pain, Numb foot, ITB, Anterior Knee Pain and Shoulder and neck pain”
Rarely does this problem come from the lower back. The most common causes are calf tightness (often as a result of over pointing of the toes/forefoot on the down phase of peddling action), hip flexor tightness, incorrect shoe, or bike set-up.
Action: Check your bike set-up and ensure you have the right fitting shoes.
Stretches: Calf and hip flexors.
Technique: Ensure heel remains down throughout the peddle phase (i.e. don’t point the toes).
Usually, a repetitive overuse injury, leading to the friction of the ITB as it rubs against the outside of the knee. This gives pain on the lateral (outside) of the knee or pelvis. Pain often occurs later in the ride and/or afterward. It can be made worse by incorrect fitting of cleats leading to inappropriate rotation through foot and knee.
Action: Have a cleat position checked to ensure neutral biomechanics of the foot and knee.
Stretches: ITB, lateral glutei, and hip flexors.
Technique: Ensure neutral knee biomechanics throughout the peddle phase.
Also, a repetitive overuse injury, made worse by poor cycling biomechanics, poor technique, and muscle imbalance. More common in women due to a different angle of pull on the kneecap compared to men. This leads to pain over the front of the knee/kneecap during cycling and stiffness afterward.
Action: Check the cleat position and bike set-up.
Stretches: Quads, hamstrings, and ITB/ lateral glutei.
Exercise: Strengthen medial quad (vastus medials) and lateral glutei.
Technique: Ensure good knee biomechanics throughout the peddle phase.
Often a positional strain, especially with the increased use of aero-bars and aggressive bike set up position (time trial position) or with the rapid increase in the amount of cycling. Causes neck and shoulder ache/pain and sometimes numbness in the hands
Action: Allow time for the body to adapt to increased riding.
Stretches: Trapezius, scalenes, and pectorals
Technique: Alter riding position if possible whilst cycling (i.e. aero-bars to normal bars)
For Osteopathic Treatment Visit The Osteopathic Centre Singapore
Make an appointment here
https://www.theosteo.com.sg/
Call Us at The Osteopathic Centre on 6221 4064
See more articles on our Instagram page here
https://www.instagram.com/the_
Download article in a printable format here