Jul102017

Common Cycling Injuries

Common cycling injuries are often seen and treated here at PhysioCare. Cycling, both as a sport and as a means of transport, has majorly grown in popularity over the past number of years. Recent research has even shown that cycling to work can cut the risk of cancer and cardiovascular disease in half – great news! However, with more and more people getting out on their bikes, be it for the commute to work, a leisurely cycle at the weekend or for a long distance spin in the countryside; overuse injuries from cycling are becoming a common issue seen in our clinics. My name is Sinead Greenan (MISCP) and I treat patients in both the Blanchardstown and Castleknock clinics here at PhysioCare. We can help if you are feeling the aches and strains that come after time if you cycle often, or if you ever are unfortunate to have a cycling accident. Luckily, many cycling injuries are easily treatable and preventable with the correct advice. Here are three common injury sites that we see:

Knee Pain

common cycling injuriesDue to continuous repetition of knee flexion and extension whilst pedalling, pressure can build up in various structures of the knee. Excessive sideways motion or poor bike set-up can cause inflammation or strain, leading to iliotibial band syndrome (pain on the outside of the knee) or patellofemoral pain syndrome (pain at the front of the knee).

Lower Back Pain

As the spine is held in a flexed position for long periods of time whilst cycling, excessive pressure is put on the muscles and ligaments. When this builds up over time it can cause pain. It is also important to consider the lifestyle factors that can contribute to lower back pain such as excessive sitting and poor postures.

Neck Pain

Lack of mobility of the upper and lower back (and a poor bike set-up) can lead to neck pain which can spread to the shoulders and sometimes cause tingling in the arms. It is important to check that you have correct saddle and handlebar height and are not straining your neck too much whilst cycling.

A combination of manual therapy, stretching and strengthening works well to manage the above issues, along with making sure your bike has the correct set-up for your body. At PhysioCare, we can do all of this for you while administer high-quality Physiotherapy Treatment. Call us on 015310007 for more information or to book an appointment with a Chartered Physiotherapist.

References
  • Celis-Morales, C.A., Lyall, D.M., Welsh, P., Anderson, J., Steell, L., Guo, Y., Maldonado, R., Mackay, D.F., Pell, J.P., Sattar, N. and Gill, J.M., 2017. Association between active commuting and incident cardiovascular disease, cancer, and mortality: prospective cohort study. bmj, 357, p.j1456.
  • Mellion, M.B., 1991. Common cycling injuries. Management and prevention. Sports medicine (Auckland, NZ), 11(1), pp.52-70.
Category: Blog