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Integrated Training for Improved Cycling Performance - Part 1
As we all know cycling is a great way to improve your overall cardiovascular fitness. However, what you may not know is that over time the demands of cycling can lead to muscular imbalances which can limit the body's ability to perform at peak level and dramatically increase chance of both over-use injury and chronic pain. To get a clearer idea of how these imbalances can occur we'll take a look at the riding posture starting from the feet and moving up to the head: Pedaling places a lot of stress on the calves. Tight calves can cause the feet to flatten and place undue stress on the heel cord, plantar fascia and knees. The major muscles involved in cycling are the quadriceps. You can see that by looking at any professional cyclist. However, miles of cycling in the bent over cycling position can create tightness in the quadriceps and the psoas (hip flexors). These tight quads and hip flexors pull the pelvis out of optimal position into a forward tilt. This anterior tilt of the pelvis sets in motion a cascade of muscle imbalance. The forward tilt of the pelvis causes an increased arching of the lower back. This over loads the muscles of the lumbar spine while at the same time lengthens and weakens the abdominals. Another muscle group negatively affected by these dominant quads and hip flexors are the gluteals. The glutes are a major pelvic stabilizer and the main hip extensors of the body. Tightness and over-activation of their opposing hip flexors cause the glutes to become weak and under-active. In this situation, because the glutes cannot effectively extend the hip, the hamstrings must pick up the slack. As a result, the hamstrings get over worked and become tight. Moving up to the shoulders and mid-back, we see the back rounded. A rounded upper back causes the shoulder blades to elevate and protract. As a result, the muscles in the chest and upper trapezius become tight leaving the shoulders hiked up and pulled forward. Tight pecs major and upper traps weaken the mid-back and scapula stabilizers. Weak scapula stabilizers can place undue stress in the shoulder joint during overhead movements while tight upper Traps are a major contributor to neck tension and pain. The last body part to look at is the head. Cycling posture pulls the head forward. The cervical spine was designed to efficiently support the head and evenly distribute its weight among the seven cervical vertebrae. As the head is pulled forward the distribution of its weight shifts and more force is placed on the vertebrae at the base of the neck. This can lead to calcium deposits and arthritic changes in the cervical vertebrae. A forward head also leads to tightness of the neck flexors and weakening of the neck extensors. This places undue stress on the muscles in the back of the neck and commonly results in neck pain and tension head aches. As you can see, cycling can cause some serious muscle imbalances that can lead to pain in the body. The next article will look at how to correct these imbalances using an integrated training approach that encompasses muscle balance, postural efficiency, core stability and flexibility. Dave Radin, CSCS, NASM-CPT, is a personal trainer with Precision Fitness. Precision Fitness is located in the Lake Norman area of Charlotte, North Carolina. Check out their website at http://www.lakenormanfitness.com. You can contact Dave at Precision Fitness at 704-662-8664, or by email at dave@ncprecisionfitness.com.
Latest News:Site: Yahoo! News Search Results for news Myanmar's Suu Kyi to get family letters, news mags (Reuters via Yahoo! News) Detained Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi has managed to wring small concessions from the ruling generals in the form of letters from her family and some international news magazines, her lawyer said on Friday. JCDecaux in talks for News Outdoor Group in Russia (AP via Yahoo! News) French outdoor advertising firm JCDecaux SA said Thursday it is negotiating to buy Russian rival News Outdoor Group from global media company News Corp. News Corp tightens grip on Premiere with new CEO (Reuters via Yahoo! News) Rupert Murdoch tightened his grip on German pay-TV broadcaster Premiere by appointing News Corp executive Mark Williams as CEO in a move to get the company back on track. SEC Looks Into UAL Stock Scare; Implications For Online News? (CBS News) A ton of digits have been devoted to this in other spots but the SEC's decision to investigate takes it to another level. The backstory: a six-year-old news story about UAL declaring bankruptcy made it into the Tribune-owned Sun-Sentinel 's current news flow, was picked up by a Google (NSDQ: GOOG) News bot and, via a reporter for a newsletter, made it onto Bloomberg News. After a lot of buck ... Help News pick Stadium's greatest moment (New York Daily News) The News is marking the countdown to the final game at The House That Ruth Built by reflecting on Yankee Stadium's greatest moments - and we're asking you - the reader - to help us pick out the best of the best. JCDecaux and News Corp. in talks to combine outdoor ad groups (International Herald Tribune) The News Corp. chief executive, Rupert Murdoch, has recently expressed nervousness about investments in Russia, where News Outdoor generated the bulk of its revenue last year. SEC Looks Into UAL Stock Scare; Implications For Online News? (paidContent.org via Yahoo! Finance) A ton of digits have been devoted to this in other spots but the SEC's decision to investigate takes it to another level. The backstory: a six-year-old news story about UAL declaring bankruptcy made it into the Tribune-owned Sun-Sentinel's current news flow, was picked up by a Google News bot and, via a reporter for a newsletter, made it onto Bloomberg News. JCDecaux in talks to buy News Corp. billboard unit (AP via Yahoo! Finance) In a deal that would create the world's largest outdoor advertising company, French conglomerate JCDecaux SA said Thursday that it is in talks to buy Russian rival News Outdoor Group from global media company News Corp. Phila. mayor to announce grim budget news (The Philadelphia Inquirer) The Nutter administration is expected to announce grim budget news today, which is all but certain to lead to significant spending cuts - perhaps as high as 10 percent - in some city departments, according to three sources familiar with the budget. News Corp says Mark Williams interim Premiere CEO (Reuters via Yahoo! News) News Corp. executive Mark Williams has taken over as chief executive of German pay-TV broadcaster Premiere in an interim capacity, News Corp. said after the move led to renewed takeover speculation. Site: news - Google News 2009 Automotive News World Congress to Address Most Complex ... - MarketWatch
MORE RESOURCES: Site: Yahoo! News Search Results for aerobics cardio City Parks Department offers aerobics classes (The Alliance Review) By NANCY WHITAKER The Review Slap on those shorts or sweatpants, get the old tennis shoes out of the closet and get ready to get fit. The University Times | The University of North Carolina at Charlotte's Student Newspaper Since 1949 (Niner Online) The Group Fitness Sampler is an annual event that allows students to experience an example of each type of group fitness exercise offered in the SAC. On Thursday, Sept. 4, over 75 students and 12 instructors gathered into the group fitness room in the SAC at 5:30 to begin their two-hour session of exercise class samples. Boogie Box Fitness Launches the Release of Their New Fitness Program on October 4th at the Irvine Marriott @ 11AM (Centre Daily Times) Are you ready to sweat, move & groove to the new way in fitness? Tae Bo and Zumba move over, Boogie Box is here and hands down, there is no comparison! It's what the public has been waiting for, the Boogie Box phenomenon is going to explode! Stay cool while you exercise with water aerobics (Bradenton Herald) It's too hot to exercise outside. Unless, of course, you're a camel or in a pool. Community notes (Arizona Daily Star) Vail/Corona de Tucson Exercise options (Orlando Sentinel) aerobics Health calendar (Honolulu Advertiser) ORGAN DONOR CENTER OF HAWAI'I free presentation, including testimony from a successful organ transplant recipient, 6:30 p.m., Sept. 11, 'Aiea Public Library; 483-7333. Indian River County community connection: Sept. 11 (Vero Press Journal) Check here for the latest community events and meetings YMCA joins forces with America on the Move (Gloucester-Mathews Gazette-Journal) YMCA and America on the Move Foundation, Inc., have joined forces to be catalysts for change in their communities and to encourage families and individuals to take small steps toward a healthier lifestyle. Exercise heaven: High on Leggs Hill, new YMCA takes shape (The Salem News) The basketball court at the nearly completed Marblehead/Swampscott YMCA is big enough to host two games. At nearly full court. Simultaneously. "We could fit the whole of the current YMCA in the basketball court alone," director Paul Gorman said as he watched workmen install the vast hardwood floor. Site: aerobics cardio - Google News Cebu Lifestyle Productively fit - Philippine Star
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