Cycling is a great way to exercise and improve your fitness levels, no matter if you do it as a hobby or if you have serious competitive aspirations. However, like any other strenuous exercise, it does carry some potential problems and complications that you will be wise to prepare for. There are two main types of injuries which are typically sustained by dedicated cyclists, and the good news is that both types of injuries can be managed and improved with physiotherapy. Many clients with these kinds of injuries choose to visit a Gold Coast Physiotherapist as they are known to be one of the best in their field, but the even better good news is you can find a variety of them in your local area too.
So whether you’re looking to overcome a cycling related injury or just looking to inform yourself in case you struggle with this issue down the line, this article will provide a useful frame of reference.
Typical Traumatic Injuries in Cycling
Traumatic injuries in cycling are normally associated with unexpectedly falling and crashing down while riding a bike, so this type of injury tends to afflict amateurs and professional cyclists alike. When discussing traumatic injuries in cycling, we’re usually looking at fractures, contusions, and bony bruises. Most typically, the affected areas are the collarbone, the knees, tibia, shoulders and elbows, and also the cranium… essentially, all the areas which are prone to fractures on impact when a cyclist falls down from his bike.
The key to avoiding getting stopped by a traumatic injury is, of course, to avoid falling down from your bike. Naturally, that is not something you can entirely control, but you can at least use proper equipment to ensure that any accidents or falls you’re subject to will have minimal impact on your bones. One cannot possibly overstate the importance of wearing proper safety gear when it comes to reducing traumatic injuries suffered during cycling.
Inexperienced cyclists sometimes feel as though wearing too much gear will slow them down, but typically what tends to slow a cyclist down or even stop him permanently is failing to observe the fundamental security precautions. While it’s very much possible to minimize the impact of these injuries by utilizing the professional services of physical therapists that can be found at places like Luna, your best bet is to take action to minimize the odds of an injury in the first place. Whilst both options could be worthwhile, you must remember to do what is right for you and your body.
Common Overuse Injuries in Cycling
Overuse injuries are more common amongst professional cyclists, or at leasts cycling veterans. This is because even though it’s a great workout, cycling is also a highly repetitive activity – which means there are plenty of opportunities for wear and tear to get the best of your joints and directly cause an injury by overuse. When considering typical overuse injuries in cycling, you’re looking at anything from chronic muscle fatigue to saddle sores, foot numbness, Achilles tendinitis, knee pain, lower back pain and neck pain.
These types of injuries are the direct result of persistent physical stress tied to the repetitive movements in cycling, and fortunately they can both be prevented and alleviated by adopting physiotherapy as part of your training routine. We advise against waiting until you have a crippling injury before you start learning how to make physiotherapy a regular part of your training. By learning these routines early and making them a part of your exercise sessions, starting with how you stretch and warm up before actually getting on your bike, you will be much more resilient to overuse injuries – and less likely to be stopped by chronic pains an uncooperative muscles and tendons.
