As the weather begins
to warm up, Australians of all ages are getting into the spirit of biking and
cycling. Cycling is one the most enjoyable forms of exercise because it is very
easy to get started and there are so many places where you can cycle. However,
with greater physical activity comes greater chance of injury, especially while
cycling. So how can you avoid hurting yourself while you get out and enjoy
cycling? We’ll take you through some of the most common cycling injuries and
how you can combat or prevent these with proper equipment.
Knee
Pain
As with any sport that
requires excessive lower body activity, it makes sense that your knees might
experience some injury or fatigue when you cycle. This injury can be caused by
anything, such as overexerting your muscles or poor peddling form. One easy way
to keep knee pain at bay is to practice your form. You will be amazed at how much
better your knee will feel once you start peddling appropriately. If you need a
more all-encompassing treatment, we recommend a knee brace or sleeve that will
help keep your knee aligned while peddling without having to do any extra work.
Our Thermoskin
Cooper Knee Alignment Sleeve is a great option for
controlling knee pain during your rides, as well as lessening knee pain when resting
Lower
Back Pain
Whenever you keep your
upper body in the same position for an extended period of time, pressure on
your vertebrae can build up and the chance of developing lower back pain
increases. This can be especially difficult because keeping your upper body
stationary is a crucial part of maintaining control over the bike. When your
bike will not allow you to change positions without sacrificing control, we
recommend wearing the Thermoskin
Sacroiliac Support Belt while you are off your bike to help
mitigate any back pain. This will make your next bike ride much more
comfortable.
Muscle
Tightness
If you’re an avid
cycler, you are all too familiar with the muscle tightness you experience in
your calves and hamstrings once you get off the bike. One very simple way to
combat this muscle tightness is to stay hydrated and warm up before you take a
long or strenuous ride. Simply letting your muscles get accustomed to more
intense movements will keep them from seizing up once you’re finished cycling.
Further, you can use our Marble
Foam Balance Roller to roll out any muscle tightness or stiffness
before and after you cycle to provide more immediate and long lasting relief.
Saddle
Sores
Cycling, while a great
way to exercise, is one of the few sports that can actually lead to injury from
sitting down for too long. When you sit in the same place while you cycle, the
friction between your skin, shorts and bike seat can cause painful rashes that
make it difficult to enjoy the ride. A very simple remedy to this injury is
simply being sure that you are wearing the appropriate cycling garments to
prevent any chaffing or inflammation.
Even though cycling can
lead to some uncomfortable injuries, there are multiple ways that you can
combat this discomfort for a more enjoyable and satisfying experience. Whether
you consider yourself a pro or are just starting to dip your toes into the
world of cycling, it’s important to think about how to prevent injuries and how
to remedy them when afflicted.