Cycling Shoulder Pain: Causes and Treatment Tips from One Body LDN, the Best Physiotherapist in London
Cycling is an excellent kind of exercise that can enhance your cardiovascular health, muscle strength, and general well-being. Yet, if you are an active cyclist, you may occasionally encounter shoulder pain, which can have a detrimental impact on your cycling performance and overall quality of life. In this post, we’ll look at the causes of cycling shoulder pain and offer treatment advice from One Body LDN’s London Bridge physiotherapy experts.
Cycling shoulder pain can be caused by a variety of factors, including bad posture, overuse, improper bike fit, and traumatic injuries. The pain can range from minor to severe, and it might impact your shoulder joint, rotator cuff muscles, or surrounding tendons and ligaments. Here are some of the most prevalent reasons and treatments for cycling shoulder pain.
Bad Posture
One of the most common reasons of cycling shoulder pain is poor posture.
Leaning too far forward or hunching your shoulders when cycling puts undue strain on your neck, upper back, and shoulders, which can cause pain and stiffness. Keep your shoulders relaxed and down, your elbows slightly bent, and your hands lightly gripping the handlebars to improve your posture.
Consider stretching your shoulders and neck before and after your riding exercise to increase your flexibility and range of motion.
Injuries caused by overuse
Another common reason of cycling shoulder pain is overuse injuries, especially if you cycle large distances or frequently. Repetitive motions that inflict wear and tear on your muscles, tendons, and ligaments, such as leaning forward to hold the handlebars or drawing back on the brakes, can result in overuse injuries. Take regular rests and extend your shoulders, arms, and neck to avoid overuse problems. Consider cross-training with other activities such as swimming or yoga to give your muscles a vacation while still improving your overall fitness.
Inadequate Bike Fit
Another major reason of cycling shoulder pain is improper bike fit. You may be putting unneeded strain on your shoulders and upper back if your bike is not properly fitted to your physique.
Consider having a professional bike fitting from a skilled mechanic to ensure that your bike fits you properly. They can change the handlebar height, seat height, and stem length of your bike to meet your body measurements and cycling style. Not only can a correct bike fit avoid cycling shoulder pain, but it can also increase your cycling performance and comfort.
Injuries Caused by Trauma
Cycling shoulder pain can also be caused by traumatic injuries like as fractures or dislocations.
These injuries can develop as a result of cycling accidents or falls, and they require prompt medical attention. Get medical attention right away if you have sudden and severe shoulder discomfort, swelling, or loss of motion. Once you’ve been approved by a doctor, you can begin a rehabilitation programme with a physiotherapist to help you heal and avoid future injuries.
Treatment Suggestions from One Body LDN, London’s Top Physiotherapist
We understand how crucial it is for cyclists to remain pain-free and perform at their peak. That is why we provide a variety of physiotherapy treatments to assist cyclists in recovering from shoulder pain and avoiding future injuries. Here are some therapy suggestions from our skilled physiotherapists:
Rest and ice: If you have shoulder pain, you should rest the afflicted shoulder and apply ice to minimise pain and swelling.
Exercises for physiotherapy: Our physiotherapists can teach you particular exercises to help strengthen your shoulder muscles, improve your posture, and avoid future problems.
Massage and joint mobilisation are examples of manual therapy treatments that can help relieve pain and stiffness, increase circulation, and restore range of motion.
Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese medicine treatment that involves placing small needles into particular places on the body in order to relieve pain and promote healing. Sports massage is a type of deep tissue massage that can assist relieve muscle tension, increase flexibility, and avoid injuries.
To summarise, cycling shoulder discomfort is a frustrating and unpleasant ailment that can impair your riding ability and general quality of life. But, with the assistance of One Body LDN’s London physiotherapy professionals, you may heal from shoulder pain and avoid future problems. You may stay pain-free and perform at your best by correcting your posture, preventing overuse injuries, ensuring good bike fit, and obtaining professional support from a physiotherapist. Make an appointment with us today to take the first step towards a pain-free cycling experience.
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