It's busy on the bike path. In 2019, after the car, the bicycle was the most used means of transport in the Netherlands. According to the latest estimates by trade associations BOVAG and RAI, there are 22.8 million bicycles in the Netherlands.
Every year, 1.5 million Dutch people get on their racing or touring bicycles once or several times a week. The number of mountain bikers is growing rapidly, now more than 520,000 people are regularly active. More and more Dutch people are discovering cycling as the ultimate challenge to stay in shape and get there. In hardly any sport is relaxation and effort so close together. Cycling has many faces. It is a fantastic combination of technique, power, condition and courage. While recreational cycling mainly provides relaxation and a feeling of freedom, the sporting reward in cycling, mountain biking and cross country is precisely the feeling of growth, condition, strength and power. And the great thing is that these things can not only be measured during competitions, but also during individual training sessions.
With the increasing interest in participating in sports more intensively, the number of sports injuries is also increasing. Precisely because cycling can be started without a trainer or supervisor, injuries are lurking. After a short period of habituation, you are usually fine. But there are various injuries that can definitively end the fun and relaxation in cycling, mountain biking and cyclocross. Stay alert!
Each year, 3.5 million athletes are injured; 1.4 million of these must be treated by a doctor or specialist. Behaviour, training and equipment together form the basis for healthy sports practice. But sport also means looking for and pushing boundaries. Speed, risk-taking or a moment of reduced concentration can often lead to accidents.
Usually the question is not how one sustains an injury, but how one gets rid of it as quickly as possible. A fall, overload or work-related complaints can seriously hinder cycling pleasure. Our physiotherapist with knowledge and experience in cycling will quickly put his finger on the sore spot and help you get back on the saddle quickly.
Not only the bike, but also the body sometimes needs extra attention.
What does the physiotherapist do?
Every body and every complaint is different. Therefore, each treatment plan is unique. During the intake, your request for help will be listened to. Subsequently, a physical examination is started to identify where the complaint may be coming from. During this examination, tests are performed and a comparison is made between the left and right part of the body or joints. Based on the feedback of the recognizable complaint, a treatment plan is drawn up.
Ultrasound
Ultrasound can be used to better diagnose the diagnosis. By means of imaging, the physical therapist can see which form of overload or inflammation may be present. The results of the ultrasound are discussed with the patient. The result of the ultrasound is important to determine even more accurately what degree of strain the patient can or may have during the injury. Advice can also be given about how long the complaint will last.
Mobilizing/manipulating joints
Certain joints may cause pain, stiffness, tingling or reduced range of motion. The manual therapist can use active and passive mobilizations and manipulations to improve the pain, tingling and freedom of movement of the joints. Subsequently, exercises are given to optimize the tension and mobility of these joints or regions.
Massage/dry needling of muscles
Many repetitive movements can lead to overload of the body. Too much tension can cause pain or limitations when cycling. It is therefore important to unload the body. Massage and dry needling can be used to relax muscle groups.
Dry needling focuses on so-called trigger points. Trigger points are small hardenings and/or pain points in the muscles. They can cause pain with or without radiation, limitation of movement, stiffness and reduced strength when contracting the muscles. Dry needling is performed by inserting a needle into the trigger point and the patient may experience a "twitch". The post-compensation can cause some muscle pain and a sore feeling. The performance of Dry Needling will always be decided in consultation with the patient.
Shock wave therapy for tendon problems
The device is placed on the body part to be treated. This exposes the body part to powerful shock waves, which triggers a repair mechanism in the targeted tissue. This is because micro damage occurs to the tissue, which triggers improved blood flow, renewed cell repair and increased metabolism. Shock wave therapy can help with shoulder, knee and elbow complaints, among other things.
Medical taping
Medical taping can be used for various types of complaints to the musculoskeletal system. It is used to support joints, strengthen weakened muscles or relax tense muscles. It can also be used for posture correction and pain relief, for example when turning the knee inwards.
Exercise therapy
Exercise therapy is becoming increasingly important within cycling sports. Muscle strengthening exercises improve explosiveness and strength endurance. Both sprinters and climbers benefit from strength exercises. These exercises mainly focus on the lower body and trunk, and can be performed in different ways for the legs, buttocks, calves and trunk muscles. A tailor-made training schedule is drawn up based on the objective.