As the weather improves, no doubt we’re all keen to spend as much time as we can outside, whether that’s going for long walks in the countryside, heading out for a jog or hopping on the bike for a cycle exploration of your local area.
If it’s the latter, it’s important to know how to maintain good form no matter what – and how to treat any injuries, aches and pains that may crop up over the next few weeks and months.
Some of the most common injuries that you may sustain include neck pain, lower back pain, saddle sore, hip pain, numbness in the feet and knee and ankle pain.
Neck pain, in particular, is something you may come across, with symptoms often manifesting because of overstraining the spine and holding a static position on the bike for a sustained period of time. There are gentle stretches you can try that will loosen the neck muscles and encourage mobility.
Lower back pain, meanwhile, can come about because of having to maintain your cycling posture with decreased hip flexibility, which can put strain on the muscles in your lower back. To help address this issue, check the height and angle of your saddle and try out some hip and back stretches to iron out any tension.
And, of course, knee pain is not something you should ignore. Your knees are one of the most important joints in the entire body, so if you are feeling pain or twinges make sure you do something about it as soon as you can.
For cyclists, imbalances in the thigh or hip can lead to patello femoral syndrome, where tension balance across the kneecap is compromised. Again, check the height of the saddle to make sure it’s right and prioritise hip and knee stretches to support mobility and reduce tension.
If you’d like any further help or advice relating to cyclist injuries now or in the future, get in touch with the Clear Physio team today. We’ll get you back on the road in no time.
