Your posture whilst cycling could be causing you pain

Yes. Cyclists often develop problematic areas of the body as a direct result from their individual cycle 'gait' and cycling habits. Such problems can include knee pains, buttock / hip pains and back and neck problems, often from poor posture on the bike, incorrect bike set-up and more interestingly as a result of dominance and overuse of one side of the body whilst cycling. Symptoms can be gradual and a link to cycle posture, leg dominance or poor gait is often not made as onset does not alway take place following a specific cycle injury or incident.

Assessment of flexibility, strength and core control by a physiotherapist can assist in screening for such problems, but there are a few simple things cyclists themselves can do to help alleviate problems:

• Take regular 'posture pauses' at natural stops such as at traffic lights - sit up from the bike and straighten spine, relax shoulders and position head in neutral.


• Get a friend to cycle behind you to watch for any obvious uneven gait or movement abnormalities.


• Take your bike into a cycle shop to correctly adjust the set-up for your individual measurements such as seat height, reach, cleat position etc.


• Be self aware - try to feel if one leg seems to be pushing harder that the other side, or you feel that your body is leaning to one favoured side on the push-down etc.

Attention to a few simple things may reduce injury by improving position, eliminate pain through reduced joint and muscle stress and may also improve performance.