London Fixed-gear and Single-speed SJS Cycles

Greetings Everyone,

I am a longstanding forum member and often read posts requesting injury advice and contacts for Physiotherapists with an interest in cycling. Well I am one such Physiotherapist. As well as commuting I ride regular Sportives around the country and am a member of Rollapaluza CC. It can be frustrating seeking treatment for sports-specific complaints and I would like to offer my services to LFGSS members. I would like to use this thread to offer injury prevention and management advice to members and would also like to offer reduced cost Physiotherapy Assessments.

I work privately with the Kentish Town Physiotherapy Group (www.kentishtownphysio.co.uk) who have sites across North and Central London. We are a team of experienced Musculoskeletal clinicians who have all worked in a range of high level sports.

I would like to offer LFGSS members 30min assessments for just £30 (perfect for the assessment of acute complaints) or conventional 45min assessments for just £40.

If you have any special requirements or wish to book an appointment please contact me via PM. Alternatively you can call Kentish Town Physiotherapy on 0207 482 3875 quoting 'CYCLIST' to book your reduced rate appointment with me.

I look forward to your queries and posts.

Regards,

Michael (aka Bluerip00)
Chartered Physiotherapist

perfect timing, my knee has just blown up.

that gear & the ditchling!

Great! I can't wait to ditch the codeine and try some physio

Good stuff, Michael. There are quite a few on here who will be able to benefit from your services--some who have already realised that they should do something and some who haven't. (I'm not being smug--I've been through seven years of knee pain which is currently under control but I still have to be careful.)

Just to let people know who will scream "spam! spam!", Michael did ask before making this and as he has made other posts, is an early member and is active within part of the community I'm perfectly fine with him promoting his work to others. I just wish it didn't read like an advert ;) But no... it's cool. Now if I could just find a physio right near the British Museum or Covent Garden who understands cycling I'll be sorted for my lunchtime massages when my back is playing up.

Michael: For a n00b like me, can you just outline Physiotherapy vs Osteopathy vs Chiropractic,when it comes to issues like neck and back pain? Is there a specific reason to choose one over the other? Still not sure where the difference is?

Michael, have you any experience of working with people who have spinal fusions? I have a fusion from T1-L4 so only have one vertebra left to move with, and I really need to take good care of the remaining discs I have left.

I'll PM you!

I'll probably get slated by any Osteo's or Chiro's who may read this...

Professional boundaries are becoming increasingly blurred amongst these three professions. All clinicians should provide a comprehensive physical assessment but often differing treatments will be provided depending on training and skills base. For example, I have undergone postgraduate training in Spinal Manipulation and Acupuncture amongst other things.

Osteopaths and Chiropractors pay particular attention to the musculoskeletal system and often treat with manual therapy and manipulation. Physiotherpists also do this but in my opinion our treatments are often more holistic and address not only physical issues but also psychological factors which may impede rehabiliation. I find we are often more pro-active in providing self-help tools to patients to optimise outcomes whereas other professions may provide longer interventions of more passive treatments.

Ultimately its down to personal preference. All are equally competent at assessing and treating spinal presentations.

I thought I miss-read your levels for a moment. Spinal fusions are fairly rare due to the longer-term changes which occur at surrounding levels. If you are still cycling then you are doing well. You are correct in wishing to protect your L45, L5S1 levels and Physiotherapy would be useful to mobilise these levels if stiff but also to imrove your core stability to obtimise dynamic support of the non-fused levels. Hydrotherapy is another useful intervention if pain levels are high.

Feel free to PM if you have personal or specific queries.

Not to undermine the good possibilities above, but I need a similar post title deleting physio and adding psycho.

i just had my collar bone fixed thought a surgery i still with stiches i will be in touch soon

Get in touch as soon as they are out and your consultant is happy for you to mobilise. There are two main joints in your shoulder that will be stiff and the sooner they can be moved the better. Good luck.

If any of you hard-working folks just want some R&R I'm also trained in acupuncture and sports massage

happy endings is all the majority will be after.

I visited Michael today and I want to encourage others to with back/joints/muscle problem to do the same. I didn't expect any miracles, but at least he's more thorough than your GP. We had a chat and after an assessment Michael gave some homework to do which already improved my mobility.

Keep your queries coming folks, getting plenty of PMs and hope my advice is useful.

I'll be contacting you this week re: a visit

Hmm, do you think physio could benefit me at the moment? I had L3-L4 fused in May so that's probably not solid yet (the rest of the metalwork here is years old). I went over a pothole on my Moulton earlier (tiny wheels) and jarred the fck out of it and it's a bit stingy now.

The marvels of modern spinal surgery. Thank you for decorating the thread. Looks like the fixation of a congenital scoliosis.

PM me with personal specifics. At 4 months post fusion bone consolidation should be fairly stable unless you have other co-morbidities. Your consultant should have given you clear post-op advice and you should be having a 6 month review.

It would be essential to optimise your core stability and maintain movement ranges at non-fused segments and Physio would certainly help with this. Get in touch if you need more advice.

And ride a bike with proper wheels like everyone else!

[QUOTE=BobbinBird;971558]Hmm, do you think physio could benefit me at the moment? I had L3-L4 fused in May so that's probably not solid yet (the rest of the metalwork here is years old). I went over a pothole on my Moulton earlier (tiny wheels) and jarred the fck out of it and it's a bit stingy now.

Some deep tissue work or maybe some acupuncture would settle your recent Moulton incident.

Guys who are keen to be seen asap - I still have some slots available this Thursday.

hi there,

I have been seeing a rheumatologist and physio for the last few years. Having moved I am currently between Physios. I want to improve my back condition AND start training for longer rides. Do you BUPA?

Hi Kam,

Our clinics are BUPA and AXA PPP registered so there would be no problem treating you.

PM if you have any personal queries.

Michael.

Seems a lot of you live quite central. We have clinics at Kentish Town, Hornsey and Broadgate. I'm based at our Kentish Town clinic and have the most cycle-specific knowledge. The offer was intended for forum members thay I see myself but as some of you already know I can arrange for Physio at the other sites with colleagues.

How you all doing folks?

We've now seen about ten of you 1:1 and have had dozens of personal queries. Keep your questions coming and I'll do my best to keep your wheels spinning.

Michael.

Thanks Michael for the help. It is greatly appreciated and well worth the effort! I can now walk again!!!!

Glad to hear you're improving Mr Breaker

Hi folks,

I seem to be treating a lot of you in my NHS workplace too! It seems that fixie knees don't like to cross-train and attempt running / football and hardcore clubbing in heels...

Thought the attached links might give some helpful info regarding knee pain in cyclists. I'm not endorsing the information contained but think it gives a good overview of commonly encountered problems.

[COLOR=#0068cf]http://www.cptips.com/knee.htm[/COLOR]
[COLOR=#0066cc]http://www.cptips.com/knee2.htm[/COLOR]

Stay safe.

Michael.

In response to some requests:

Yes, Bike Fitting Sessions are available in the clinic if you want a comprehensive assessment of both your presenting problem and your bike ergonomics. We can then adjust your set-up accordingly to optimise your rehab outcome thus adressing your symptoms and an often major contributing factor.

Michael

FYI, some of you have asked about this and there is another thread specifically regarding this. Here is a brief introduction into why your hands get numb on those long bubmpy rides.

http://www.hughston.com/hha/a_15_3_2.htm

And a nice summary regarding low back pain.

http://www.tri247.com/article_3319.html

Hi Mr Rip,

Have you got any ideas or knowledge about iliopsoas/gluteus media problems in relation to cycling? My left hip has been giving me jip for about 6 months now, could it be something to do with overuse or bike set up?

Cheers

@defpoints: I am by no means a physiotherapist or bike fit expert, but generally speaking, pain in the hips can indicate something as straightforward as a saddle that's a little too high.

Was wondering if it might be something like that as it is quite high... thing is it feels fine when i'm riding, it's more off the bike stuff and sudden twisting that hurts. Anyway i'll lower it and see, thanks.

def that sounds like me, i got it looked at and it was a back problem refering the pain to my hip

Mr Def,

The iliopsoas (2 muscles) are located at the front of the hip and act in stabilising the hip joint and also in flexing the hip in certain positions (cycling being one). The gluteals form the bulk of the buttock region and are more involved with hip extension (cycling again) and also rotation. Depending on where you feel your pain - saddle height is one possibility - or possibly a muscle imbalance where some muscles are too tight / too weak / too loose. Could also be a hip impingement / labral tear / something referred from the low back.

If you give me more details like aggravating activities / location / symptoms I can be more specific.

Regards,

Michael.

I'll be talking about Physiotherapy and Cycling related issues live on the Bike Show on Resonance FM 104.4 on Monday 11th Jan at 6.30.

Tune in for some velvet toned information :-)

my back is funny, if I had a consultation could you recommend a new walk for me?

Might be better to address the back and let you walk your own walk but more comfortably?!

Hi Michael, thanks for taking the trouble to reply. The pain is right 'in' the joint of my left hip, but on the outside and maybe a bit to the front if that makes any sense. It is a sharp sudden thing rather than a dull ache. It is rotation that hurts it, its most noticeable when i try and play football, or kick with my left leg. The kicking motion you make when swimming breastroke also hurts. But like I said, cycling feels fine and I barely notice it, walking, climbing stairs etc is also all fine. I had one physio session a month back and I have another on thursday; they gave me some stretches to do, but it feels like taking some time off the bike over xmas has helped it heal some, which makes me think its cycling-related rather than football or something else. I have adjusted my saddle height following the 109% rule and it may well have been ridiculously high before--but again, it felt comfortable. I've got a feeling i was sitting too far forward on the saddle in order to compensate for the height though... Anyway, be really interested to hear what you think, props to your knowledge and helpfulness good sir. Ben

Hi Michael, late to this thread but I think I'll be there with you- beer and radio show, excellent!I'll be covering fit/position.
Cheers,
Scherrit.

Stretching will probably be useful but you need to make sure any muscle imbalance/weakness is addressed to ensure your femoral head is sitting centrally within the acetabulum. You sound like you have some symptoms of impingement. If there was no preceeding trauma then your symptoms should improve with reduced irritation and corrective exercises.

Let me know if you need a second opinion.

Regards,

Michael

The Bike Whisperer?

Look forward to meeting you on Monday.

yeah he is, sorry you can blame me for that :) //a

Just a quick note to say I took Michael up on his special offer, and it was excellent. It was really nice having a physio who knew about the specifics of cycling, and how it related to my long standing back problem. Very much recommended!

Just been reminded of this thread listening while listening to the bike show on resonance. Hearing Kentish Town mentioned rang a bell, I'm assuming it's the same Michael?

Been meaning to get my slightly-dodgy left ankle checked out for a while, will be in touch.

Here is the link to The Bike show Podcast:

http://thebikeshow.net/wellbeing
[COLOR=#0068cf][/COLOR]
enjoy.