What Are The Most Common Cycling Injuries

Cycling is a great activity whether you are a professional rider or simply ride a bicycle for transportation purposes.  It is a low impact form of exercise which is great on your joints.  However, any prolonged physical training, such as cycling, can result in injury.

So how do you prevent cycling injuries from occurring? 

According to Ronan McNamara, a bike fitting specialist, adjusting bicycles for both performance and injury prevention is key.  “Cycling is a repetitive action. If you’re doing something wrong, you’re doing it over and over again, which is going to cause discomfort or injury somewhere along the line.”

Even slight adjustments to the seat height, handle bar position and the cleats can improve performance and prevent injury.

It’s also important to look at your cycling schedule.  If you’re riding everyday and for long distances, the stress on your body can lead to injury.  Rest and recovery periods are key to allowing our bodies the time to heal and adapt to the stress of riding.

Another component to consider is strength training.  According to Ellen Foster, D.P.T., “strength training doesn’t have to be about building big muscles.  Aim to get into the gym two or three times a week to lift in the offseason and then, as the bike intensity goes up, you can switch to maintenance mode.”

Finally, a warm up is also crucial in preventing injuries.  Similar to running warm ups,  your body needs to activate the muscles and connective tissues by taking your joints through full range of motion to prepare for the task at hand.

And, if you are experiencing or suffering from an injury, seek the help of a sports medicine physician , Chiropractor, or Physiotherapist who can help diagnose and formulate a treatment plan.

Our team is here to answer any questions or help get you back to cycling!

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