 Spring at last! By the time you read this, thousands will have completed the London Marathon, and many more will be training for the numerous other Marathons and Charity Races that take place around the country, and, volcanic cloud permitting, further afield. Many of you will also be taking advantage of the ‘Cycling to Work’ initiative and commuting to work by bike.
As you launch with great enthusiasm into a running routine, or get state-of-the-art cycling equipment, have you considered the impact of internal and external forces on your body? Your running or cycling technique is critical to ensure you optimise performance and remain injury-free. A biomechanics assessment might make all the difference, whether you run or cycle for pleasure, weight loss, general fitness, competition or rehabilitation after illness or injury.
To run at your best it is important to run efficiently, using as little energy as possible on each step whilst maintaining a comfortable stride and rhythm.
Using the treadmill in one of our studios, our physiotherapists film you whilst you run, then download the video into advanced computer software to analyse your running technique. Being able to slow down and rewind the video, they can look at angles throughout the body and compare these as you move through the different phases of running. Based on your specific findings, they then make recommendations for your running action, give advice regarding strengthening and stretching exercises, footwear or orthotics, to ensure you run more efficiently and avoid injury.
Similarly if you commute to work by bike, cycle as a hobby or are training for your next triathlon, a full biomechanical assessment may make a big difference to your cycling efficiency. Alteration to the saddle height for example will change joint angles and muscle lengths, therefore affecting your performance. How many people know that the most efficient saddle height is reportedly 109% of leg length when using a seated upright position?
The turbo trainer at the Hospital of St John and St Elizabeth in St John’s Wood enables our physiotherapists to conduct an assessment of your individual cycling style on your own bike, or the one you are about to buy to make sure it’s right for you.
You bring your bike to the gym and the therapist observes you cycling as you would be doing outdoors. This allows your posture and biomechanics to be assessed on your bike and compared with the optimum cycling position to maintain efficiency and prevent injury.
 Video analysis may be used to help distinguish how changes in bike set up (seat height/handle bar height etc) affect individuals’ biomechanics on their bike. Technique errors are common, and these can be easily recognised on the turbo trainer and advice given on the spot to help encourage more optimal cycling technique.
Do not let bad posture or technique ruin your running or cycling enjoyment. An assessment by one of our qualified physiotherapists starts from £100 and could make a world of difference.
For information on our Biomechanics service and the pricing range, contact us at info@central-health.com or by calling us on 020 7404 6343. |
The following key factors can make a considerable difference in ensuring your work space is optimised:
