Cycling and Planning for Overuse Injuries
Maybe you are young now and feel invincible. Are you someone now in their 50's or 60's and still feel great and want to stay that way? What are some of the keys to a long life with cycling part of your regular recreation? The picture to the left is of Paul Danhaus about half way into the RAAM (Race Across America) and the contraption he came up with to deal with neck problems. Look closely at this picture and his neck position. The muscles and connective tissues are stretched in the front and compressed in the back. It doesn't take a medical doctor or physical therapist to imagine what happens to the human body when held in this position for hours per week over many years. The muscles in the front of the neck tend to weaken. The vertebrae in the neck get compressed. The muscles in the back of the neck shorten. The trapezoids start to over-compensate for the weakening in other muscles. In an effort to relax muscles we feel are being overused we allow poor posi