Cyclist Assessment & Bike Setup

Cyclists are prone to overuse injuries due to the high volume nature of training, so will often spend a bit of time in the treatment room of their favourite Physio. Your patients bike setup can load the body in a way that can contributes to pain or decreased performance, but your patients physical range of movement and control may also be the reason for their pain on and off the bike. So, what is the best way to approach your cyclists treatment - work on their body, or on their bike first? 

In this presentation by Rob Standen, from Penrith Physiotherapy and Sports Centre, Physio to the Penrith Panthers for 15 years, and currently a keen cyclist who performs lots of bike setups on triathlete and cyclist patients regularly. Learn how to assess your cyclists, perform a screening of their range of movement, motor control and identify what may be related to their symptoms. Identify their current setup of their bike, and which particular musculoskeletal issues are related to different positions on their bike. Learn about musculoskeletal issues your patients may commonly have if their seat is too low, too high, too far forward, too far back, handlebar stem is too short or long, and other setup issues eg if your patient presents with anterior knee pain/PFJ pain.

In this video you will learn:

•  whether to setup the bike first or treat your patients motor patterns

• cyclist screening

• what you need to measure to know if your patient is suitable for an off-the-shelf bike frame

• an explanation and understanding of cycling terms

• identifying training loads that may be related to their pain or injury

• the muscles involved in the various stages of the pedal stroke

• about ideal pedal float

• how to setup cleats to the ideal position to improve efficiency and minimise pain

• ideal joint angles at various points of the pedal stroke

• knee and hip tracking that relates to their pain

• ideal seat position 

• how to setup your patients on their bike, with three different setup options, from very easy through to a thorough setup, utilising various tools you have available in your clinic

• when adjustments can be made to your patients bikes, and when they may need to purchase new components for their bike to help it fit them

• case studies illustrating how to incorporate treatment and bike setup to get patients pain free and performing optimally

Watch this video now to learn how to screen your patients, and set them up correctly on their bike.