How a Cycling Physical Therapist Can Help You Stay Strong, Fast, and Injury Free

Written By Beau Saunier

How Physical Therapy Helps Cyclists Stay Strong, Fast, and Injury-Free

Whether you’re training for your next century ride, grinding gravel in Acadiana, or simply enjoy long weekend spins, cycling is one of the most rewarding endurance sports. But just like any repetitive sport, it also comes with its own set of physical demands—and potential injuries.

At MoveRx Physical Therapy, we help cyclists of all levels overcome nagging injuries, fine-tune their performance, and build the resilience needed to ride strong for the long haul.

Common Injuries in Cyclists

Cycling is low-impact, but not risk-free. We frequently treat:

  • Knee pain (patellofemoral pain, IT band syndrome)

  • Low back pain from prolonged flexed posture

  • Neck and shoulder tightness due to long hours in aero or road positions

  • Hip impingement or tightness

  • Hand numbness (ulnar neuropathy) and wrist discomfort

These issues often stem from muscle imbalances, poor bike fit, or training errors—not just trauma.

How Physical Therapy Can Help Cyclists

1. Target the Root Cause

We don’t just treat symptoms. Through a full-body movement screen, we identify limitations in mobility, strength, and motor control that contribute to pain or poor efficiency on the bike.

2. Optimize Mobility and Strength

Cycling heavily uses the quads and hip flexors, often at the expense of glutes, hamstrings, and core. We create individualized strength programs to restore balance—without adding “junk volume” that interferes with riding.

3. Improve Pedal Efficiency and Stability

A strong core and stable hips mean smoother pedal strokes, better power transfer, and fewer overuse injuries. We train movement patterns off the bike that translate directly to improved performance on the road or trail.

4. Accelerate Recovery and Prevent Setbacks

Whether you’re bouncing back from a crash or dealing with a chronic overuse issue, our performance-based rehab gets you back in the saddle with less downtime—and helps you stay there longer.

5. In-House Professional Bike Fitting

We also perform professional bike fittings right here in the clinic to tailor your bike to your specific needs. In addition to this, we have connections with local bike shops to help you get the right gear for your next ride.

Real Results from Local Riders

We’ve helped cyclists in the Lafayette community:

  • Return to riding pain-free after years of nagging knee issues

  • Rebuild strength post-hip labral tear surgery

  • Tackle their first 100-mile ride after low back pain forced early stops

If you're dealing with an injury, want to train smarter, or are preparing for your next big ride, we’re here to help.

Ready to Ride Stronger?

Whether you're a competitive cyclist or a weekend road warrior, physical therapy can be the missing link between pain and peak performance. Book a performance screen with one of our clinicians at MoveRx today—and ride with confidence.

Beau Saunier
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From Injury to Peak Performance: How Sports PT Can Transform Your Recovery