Written by Georgie Nesbitt
Cyclists and Osteopathy
Osteopathy can help you return to cycling pain-free
As the weather becomes nicer and the summer nears, there will be a certain group of people who will be excited to get back onto the roads and enjoy doing what they love. These people being the cyclists… whether professional or ammeter we all enjoy pedalling along the roads on a lovely spring or summer day. However, for many of us the cycling isn’t long lived as we end up quitting because of aches, pains, and discomfort we experience as a result of our summer hobby. But luckily this doesn’t have to be the case this year! Here at Solihull Osteopathic Practice, we offer a wide range of osteopathic lead treatments which can benefit your body and allow you to keep perusing the things you love.
Osteopathy can be used in the same way you hire a bike mechanic to do the once over on your bike. We can provide a full body ‘MOT’ to ensure your body is fit to head on the streets again, especially if you haven’t been out in months! Our osteopaths will ensure that you are able to return to doing what you love with their help and leave you feeling pain-free.
Osteopathy can help with most of the bike riding injuries and strains including but not limited to:
- Wrist and hand pain
- Knee pain
- Hip pain
- Joint restrictions
- Neck pain
- Lower back pain
- Muscle strains
- Elbow pain
- Calf pain
There are multiple different techniques the osteopaths may use for cycling-related injuries including:
Postural Analysis: It is a well-known fact that your posture majorly affects different parts of your body and a postural analysis allows your osteopath to understand how and why your body is experiencing these aches and strains.
Rehabilitation Exercises: Our osteopaths design a unique exercise and stretching programme for you to complete between appointment times which helps the progression of your recovery!
Soft-tissue massage: Focusing on increasing the blood flow, whilst relaxing the muscles through deep pressure, massaging and trigger point therapy.
Top tips for cyclists:
- Don’t ignore your body: It is very common for you to ignore your body when you are doing something you love in hopes that it will ‘sort itself out’ but unfortunately this is often not the case… Sometimes the longer you wait, the worse the condition may get, and you will potentially be putting yourself under more strain by neglecting your body. So, if you begin to experience some abnormal aches or pains as you begin to pick your hobby back up – make sure to listen to it and rest! But if the pain reoccurs ensure to book an appointment to see one of our osteopaths and they will get you back on your bike in no time.
- Drink Plenty of Water! Drinking water is the single best thing anyone can do for general health and wellbeing. Water is essential for the functioning of your body and it can also prepare you for a long day out on your bike and allows your body to recover from these adventures!
- Check the set-up of your bike. We highly recommend consulting a reputable cycling shop to receive a personal consultation on the set-up of your bike, especially if you plan on being out on the roads for long periods of time. Every person is different and so every bike set up will differ amongst different people.
- Get plenty of rest: Resting is crucial if you plan on spending lots of time on your bike. Your body needs to recover from strenuous exercise. Rest allows your muscles to rebuild, repair and grow. Rest days are important to prevent overuse injuries and they allow your body to recover from exercises and come back stronger the next time!
If you are planning on heading back onto the roads and know you have suffered from pains before or you have been training a bit too hard lately and are experiencing aches and pains outside the usual – let our team know and they will organise an appointment for you with one of our osteopaths! Call 0121 705 4499, email info@solihullosteopathicpractice.co.uk or book online.
Written by Georgie Nesbitt