Musculoskeletal Assessment
We provide science based fits, tailor-made for you.
Pre-bike fit Musculoskeletal Assessment
Identifies any musculoskeletal problems / deficits likely to create pedaling asymmetry you may have leading to increased risk of poor cycling performance or injury. We then address your problems with those findings which are then integrated into the subsequent bike-fit process using a personalised rehabilitation plan to improve harmony, optimisation and interaction between you and your bicycle.
How it works
Using a range of bikefit interventions such as the Static Bike-fit approach or the Computerised Gold Standard Dartfish system approach we will assess the following:
Screening hip-joint
Forefoot tilt
Screening the pelvis SIJ for functional leg-length difference
Roland York
...John O’Groats to Land’s End...
Nick was also able to set up the bike to exactly the right parameters for my particular requirements.
Having observed my cycling action and the fact that my right knee troubled me after long rides, he recommended special inserts for my shoes which greatly reduced my discomfort.
Nick’s knowledge of treatment and exercises for cyclists is very impressive – thanks Nick
The Foot/Pedal Interface
To optimise comfort, power out efficiency and the reduce risk of injuries.
Involves the assessing:
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Foot type
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Anatomical or biomechanical mal-alignment (tilt)
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Cycling shoe design
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Shoe inserts
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Pedal and cleat system
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Cleat position and cleat wedges required to correct foot or limb mal-alignment
This part of the process focuses on how your foot/pedal interface dictates the way forces are being transmitted downwards via the cranks, and potentially, how harmful forces are transmitted up the kinetic chain – impacting on the knee, pelvis and spine.
Reduces the risk of abnormal knee movements which may lead to reduced performance or overuse injury (see fig 1)
Figure 1 Figure 2
Recent research carried out at Manchester Metropolitan University demonstrated that increasing levels of power loss strongly correlated with increasing levels of foot dysfunction. The research demonstrated an average increase in power output of 3.8% in preference of using wedges compared without wedges. The research concluded that varus wedges potentially provide greater benefits of performance to those cyclists that have a greater degree of forefoot misalignment (14).
Specialized BG varus wedges, used to correct foot dysfunction (Figure 2), strongly correlated (P<0.05) with increasing levels of power output. Forces applied to the pedal during the downstroke reach their maximum at approx 90° of crank angle. Studies show that as forces increase so does the amount of misalignment (tilt) in the direction that allows the forefoot to become parallel with the pedal (Fig 1).
Inward tilting of the forefoot causes the knee to move inwards towards the top-tube – depicted by blue arrows in (Fig 1). The dotted-oval trace represents knee motion during a pedal revolution. Varus wedges support the foot when forefoot tilt is present (Fig 2), which can result in increased power output.
If you would like further information on Musculoskeletal Assessment,
please feel free to contact the clinic.
Read more about how we can help you understand and avoid your bike related pain.
For those of you who'd like to know more - here's the science...
Science of Bikefit:
Introduction | Three Traditional Riding Positions | Foot/Shoe/Pedal Interface | Custom Made Cycling Insoles | Position of the Cleat