Shift Happens: Why Cyclists Must Adapt to Stay Injury Free

“There is nothing permanent except change.” – Heraclitus

It never fails that once or twice a month I get either a new patient or an existing patient who says, “I don’t know how I got injured, as I have been doing the same routine for twenty (fill in any year time frame) years.” I would have thought that with the advent of the information super highway, this trend would have slowed to a stop.

We are often overloaded with the newest bulletproof-your-knees routine, some new physiological Zone 2 aerobic superhighway, or any number of influencers telling you about a magic stretching routine.

However, I continue to get the same response: “I have been doing the same running routine and never got injured until now.”

Change Is Inevitable in Fitness

Do you know of anything that lasts forever without change? I think my wife and I have had three different washing machines in ten years, and I know for a fact I have probably bought 50 pairs of running shoes in the same time period.

Our fitness, our health, and our goals are ever-evolving.

Those runners who tend to get years out of their bodies before injury are always amazing, but eventually, we all fall prey to an injury.

It’s like building a mountain with layers of paint. Eventually, the layers of paint cross a threshold point, and surprise, injury knocks on the door.

Why a Thorough Evaluation Matters

This is when a thorough evaluation becomes integral to the success of what happens next. Understanding the patient’s history, how they train, what their prehab/rehab program looks like (if it even exists), what they put in their mouth (I typically see most athletes under-eat for recovery, which compromises everything), and what experts are in their corner.

My expertise as a chiropractor has always been to address the musculoskeletal economy of every individual. I focus primarily on the mobility of that system and how I can affect it in the most efficient manner without holding the patient back from pursuing their goals.

A thorough evaluation isn’t just about addressing what hurts today, it’s about helping cyclists adapt to stay injury-free as their bodies evolve.

The Risk of Long Gaps Between Injuries

The patient who goes 10–20 years without an injury tends to also be the athlete who then hits a windfall of bad luck with injuries. They have built up many compromised movement patterns that make a professional evaluation not just suggested, but mandatory.

As a chiropractor focused on efficient movement patterns, I suggest to all my athletes the importance of what they put in their mouth, what they put in their head, what they do to support their training (strength is a must), and what they do to improve their fit.

The Role of Bike Fit in Your Athletic Evolution

My runners get specialized referrals to shoe specialists and coaches to drive the right training. My triathletes and cyclists get referred only to the magical bike fitting magician himself: John Hughes.

A bike fit is not a one-and-done event in your life.

When we start, when our fitness grows, when we get older, when we get injured, and when we are cleared to return are all examples of when your bike fit changes.

• Want less pain? See John Hughes.

• Want more bike power? See John Hughes.

• Bought a new bike? See John Hughes to make your investment work.

• Switching from road to triathlon bike? See John Hughes as the geometry is so incredibly different.

Final Thoughts

From the athlete on the couch to the athlete in the Olympics, change is inevitable.

Stop wasting time wishing things to be different and instead schedule a visit with a professional. Trust me, it will be one of the greatest investments you can make.

Make It Count!

Author:

Dr. Jake Oergel is a chiropractor practicing out of Howard County Chiropractic. His specialty over the last 20 years has been to be the best musculoskeletal expert for his patients. He has been an endurance athlete for over 25 years, competing in Ironman Triathlon, ultramarathon runs, and swims, but mostly can be seen throughout the community helping athletes in need.