The FAQ is categorized into the following subjects/complaints
:
Cycling is physical exercise, and physical exercise is healthy.
Yet during the exercise of cycling all kinds of inconveniences
and complaints may occur which can thoroughly spoil the fun
of cycling. The causes which give rise to these complaints are
not always easily recognizable. The injuries that we will discuss
here can be categorized as the so-called patho-mechanical injuries.
These are injuries that arise as a result of incompatibility
between cyclist and bicycle. The causes of injuries as a result
of cycling can be divided into two categories, namely complaints
as a result of adjustment of the bicycle and complaints which
basically have a physical cause but which are aggravated by
the imposed movement when cycling or by a specific cycling position.
A random test (Stevens, 1998) among 100 racers and leisure cyclists
who did not show any organic deviations resulted in the following
complaints:
- Lower back pain (65%)
- Knee or leg problems (18%)
- Neck pain (9% combined with lower back pain 5% without back
pain)
- sittings complains (3%)
Because very often the adjustment of the bicycle is still a
matter of trial and error, it happens more than once that an
incorrect adjustment of saddle, handlebars and shoe cleats leads
to injuries. What is still underestimated, also in the paramedic
professions, is that cycling is an imposed movement which is
unnatural to human beings. As a consequence of this unnatural
movement the slightest irregularities of physical symmetry can
lead to all kinds of complaints. As a result of extensive research
and after measuring thousands of cyclists, bikefitting.com has
concluded that physical asymmetry is the main cause of many
cycling injuries. Complaints that arise when riding a bicycle
can roughly be divided into three main categories:
- Complaints that arise as a result of strains or being physically
unfit.
- Complaints as a result of an incorrect adjustment of the bicycle.
- Complaints of a physical nature.
This FAQ will be limited to a discussion and analysis of complaints
pertaining to the last two categories. For this purpose bikefitting.com
has developed a FAQ primarily aimed at practical solutions.
Naturally we do not pretend, nor guarantee that this FAQ will
solve problems 100% but, with the input received from many cyclists,
we will continue to work towards maximizing our goal.
Finally, it is better to prevent injuries than to cure them.
See to it that your equipment (bicycle, clothing, cycling shoes
etc.) is in perfect condition and see to it that your bicycle
is properly adjusted! A fitting and correctly adjusted bicycle
is a prerequisite for preventing and solving complaints: cycling
should be done on a bicycle that fits!