Cycling and Foot Biomechanics
Cycling as a sport is enjoyed by many. However, the repetitive nature of the sport can put cyclists at risk for chronic injuries such as IT Band Syndrome, Achilles Tendinitis and Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome.
This is because movement within the structure of the foot can affect the body’s entire kinetic chain and a faulty foot posture can lead to problems associated with the knee, hip and lower back.
Bike design and fit are critical to professional and recreational cyclists. Foot posture will dictate the success of the rider’s alignment to their bike.
Correct foot to pedal adjustments limits overuse injuries, reduce energy demands and make rides more satisfying.
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So much attention is spent on perfecting the bike, that problems with the rider’s feet are often overlooked. Weak foot posture and collapsing of the arch reduces the amount of downward force applied with every rotation and leads to incorrect movement at the knee and hip.
This untreated condition coupled with thousands of pedal revolutions leads to knee and foot injury such as hot foot, shin splints, heel and forefoot pain and hip discomfort.
These problems ultimately hinder performance and pleasure of the activity.
Evaluation programs on cyclists focused on correcting foot, ankle and knee alignment that combined with appropriate bike set up will ensure improvements in pedalling efficiencies.
Working with a professional bike fitter is an excellent way to balance bike adjustment needs with biomechanical foot correction needs.
Often customised foot orthotics inside the cleat can achieve much greater biomechanical efficiency than bike adjustments alone.
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