Causes
cycling injuries
To prevent that you are only fighting symptoms and the problem remains, it is important to find out the cause. Because where the injury is, often does not lie the cause. Just like with a leaking water pipe, where the water comes through the wall, the leak is often not there. In contrast to many sports, in cycling you also have to deal with a bicycle in addition to the cyclist. In the case of injuries in cycling, the cause can therefore be 'in the rider' himself, sitting in the (cycling) position, the combination. But incorrect training structure can also lead to complaints. It is therefore very important to map out all these facets. From there, a treatment plan can be drawn up.
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Cause in rider
The problem with cycling lies in the fact that it is a very symmetrical sport in which your contact points with the bicycle are successively the pedals, the saddle and the handlebars. The contact point with the pedals is also a fixed point due to the "click" systems. with few options for compensation. Any asymmetry can therefore be compensated less easily by the body. As a source of asymmetry and injuries in cycling athletes, we often see that the pelvis is misaligned. Sometimes a fall is the cause. However, the consequences of a pelvic misalignment are often not in the pelvis but at the knee or even the neck and shoulders, which often makes diagnosing the cause difficult. The left leg will move differently than the right. The adjustment of the bicycle is the same on the left and right. So there will be some compensation to be able to make the movement run smoothly. For one this is in the lower back and for the other in the knee or Achilles tendon. Overload complaints are quickly the result.
If you have fallen or are in doubt whether you have a misalignment/contortion of the pelvis, you can do a simple test yourself. To do this, lie on your back on a hard surface. Bend your knees and keep your feet on the floor. Now let your knees drop out. See how far the knees fall out. Is there a big difference between the left and right? Then you have a good chance that there is a pelvic twist. If you have an injury and you suspect a pelvic misalignment / contortion, a manual therapist or orthomanual doctor can often help you further.
Cause in bicycle
A bike that is not properly adjusted for you can also cause a lot of misery. A saddle that is too high or too low can easily lead to pain in the knee. Too great a distance between your saddle and handlebars can cause back, neck or shoulder complaints. Opinions are divided on how to adjust the bike. There is therefore no uniform size recommendation. It is important that your bike is properly adjusted for you. That is, for your arm, torso and leg length. But also on your mobility and your cycling movement. Just as everyone has their 'own' cycle, so everyone has their 'own' cycling movement. For example, one person keeps his ankle very high while cycling, while the other keeps it lower. If you keep your ankle higher, your leg will stay longer, as it were. (often a compensation for a saddle that is too high….) This will lead to a different saddle height than if you cycle with your ankle lower. A dynamic bicycle position measurement is therefore also preferable to a static one. They measure you while cycling and the correct adjustments are determined accordingly. In addition, the goals with which you start cycling also determine your position. Do you want the fastest time in competitions? Or do you want to go cycling pain-free during the weekend?
footplates
The power while cycling is given on the pedals. Proper adjustment of the footplates is very important. The stability and movements of the foot also play a major role. A foot that sinks in too much turns both the knee and the hip with it. If you realize that 90-100 revolutions per minute are made, so about 6000 per hour. Then you can imagine that when the leg does not move nicely in its 'line', overload complaints can easily arise. This movement is partly determined by stability and partly by your foot position and movement. You can easily get an indication of how your foot/leg moves while cycling. To do this, stand on one leg in front of a mirror. Sink your knee and assess how your foot and knee move. Do these rotate inwards? Is there an X-shape? If this is the case, your foot (movement) may play a role in your injury. Consultation of a specialized (sports) podiatrist can be useful in this regard. He/she can make a cycling sole for you to correct your foot position/movement while cycling.
Training build-up
Is your bike properly adjusted and you move well, but do you still get injuries? In that case, a wrong training structure or reduced (trunk) stability can also be a cause. Cycling too much too fast can easily lead to overuse injuries. Reduction of (trunk) stability leads to 'unnecessary' movements. When you are tired, you will quickly 'hang', resulting in changes in your cycling movement and overload of muscles. Therefore, build up your load slowly and let yourself be. advice/supervision by a sports doctor or trainer.
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