When it comes to optimizing your bike fit, most riders think about saddle height, handlebar reach, and pedal position. These are all part of biomechanics — the science of how your body moves. But there’s another, often overlooked player in the equation: your nervous system.

So, which matters more? And how do these two systems interact? Let’s break it down.

What is Biomechanics in Cycling?

Biomechanics refers to the physical structure and movement of your body — joints, muscles, bones, and the forces acting on them. In the context of cycling, a biomechanical approach to bike fitting focuses on:

• Joint angles (e.g. knee at the bottom of the pedal stroke)
• Hip and spine alignment
• Cleat position and pedal tracking
• Handlebar height and reach
  

The goal? Maximize power transfer, reduce joint stress, and prevent injury.

A proper biomechanical setup ensures your body moves efficiently and comfortably over time. This is especially important for endurance riders, racers, and anyone dealing with chronic pain.

 What Role Does the Nervous System Play?

While biomechanics deals with the structure, the nervous system is about control.

Your brain, spinal cord, and nerves coordinate every pedal stroke. They dictate:

• Which muscles fire (and in what order)
• How stable your posture remains under fatigue
• How you respond to feedback (like road vibration or positional discomfort)

Even with a “perfect” biomechanical setup, if your nervous system isn’t trained or adapted, you may still experience:

• Muscle imbalances
• Poor pedaling efficiency
• Instability or overcompensation
• Fatigue-related breakdowns in form
  

This is why elite bike fits don’t stop at measurements — they also consider neuromuscular patterns, balance, and proprioception.

The Interplay Between the Two

Think of biomechanics as the hardware, and your nervous system as the software. You can’t run high-performance software on outdated or misaligned hardware — and vice versa.

Adapting to a New Setup

One of the biggest mistakes cyclists make? Expecting instant results from a bike fit.

While biomechanics can be adjusted in a single session, your nervous system takes time to adapt. It may take days or even weeks for your body to fully integrate a new posture or pedal pattern.

Tips to support adaptation:

• Gradually increase riding time post-fit
• Add core and balance work off the bike
• Use drills like single-leg pedaling to refine neuromuscular control
• Stay aware of compensation patterns
  

Final Thoughts: It’s Not Either-Or

If you’re serious about performance or comfort on the bike, don’t choose between biomechanics and the nervous system — integrate both.

A high-quality bike fit should:

• Align your joints and posture
• Support your natural movement patterns
• Respect your current neuromuscular abilities
• Provide time and tools for adaptation
  

Remember: the best setup is the one that works with your body — not just the one that looks good on paper.

Ready to Upgrade Your Ride?

If you’re experiencing pain, numbness, or feel like you’re not getting the most out of your training, it might be time to revisit your fit. Whether you’re a weekend warrior or a competitive racer, a fit that respects both your structure and your nervous system will make all the difference.

Written by Tim Tracy – PT, DPT, OCS | Physio Room

The post Bike Fit Guide: Biomechanics vs. Nervous System appeared first on Physio Room.

“If healthy breathing patterns are not in place, then no other movement pattern can be.”
— Karel Lewit

In the cycling world, dogmatic thinking dies hard. While nearly every cyclist eventually deals with neck tightness, shoulder tension, or hand numbness, the go-to solutions often feel stuck in the past. Stretch more. Try a new saddle. Get another bike fit. Upgrade your carbon bars.

But there’s one critical, often-missed factor contributing to upper body discomfort on the bike:

Poor breathing patterns.

Yes, how you breathe plays a massive role in how you feel and perform on the bike. And most riders aren’t even aware that it’s holding them back.

The Link Between Breath and Body

Comfort and performance improve dramatically when you learn to breathe with intent and awareness. Poor breathing mechanics can create excess tension in your neck, shoulders, and upper back – impacting posture, comfort, and power output.

At Physio Room, we incorporate breathing pattern assessment and postural awareness into every bike fit. Here’s why and how you can start improving yours:

4 Tips to Improve Your Breathing on the Bike

1. Scapular Depression

Keep your upper body relaxed by gently pulling your shoulder blades down and back. This simple cue reduces tension in the neck and allows your ribcage and diaphragm to move more freely.

2. Breathe Deeply

Diaphragmatic breathing (belly breathing) offloads tension from your chest and shoulders. Shallow, chest-dominant breathing contributes to fatigue and stiffness, especially over long rides.

3. Find a Breathing Rhythm

Try syncing your breath with your pedal stroke. For example, inhale for two strokes, exhale for two to three. This helps regulate oxygen intake and can create a calming rhythm that steadies both heart rate and mental focus.

4. Breathe Through Your Nose

Nasal breathing filters the air and reduces dehydration. In fact, it can cut water loss by up to 40% compared to mouth breathing, which is a huge benefit during long rides or hot conditions.

Why It Matters for Every Cyclist

When you bring consciousness and intent to what is typically a subconscious act—breathing—you unlock new levels of function, performance, and comfort.

Cycling isn’t just about your legs and lungs. It’s about how your entire body moves, responds, and adapts. Breathing with awareness supports better posture, smoother pedal strokes, and a more sustainable riding position.

Before Physio Room Bike Fit

After Physio Room Bike Fit

Ready to experience the difference?
Every bike fit at Physio Room includes targeted breathing and postural assessments. Because when breathing patterns improve, so does everything else.

Written by Tim Tracy – PT, DPT, OCS | Physio Room

The post Cycling Posture: Myths vs. Reality appeared first on Physio Room.

Win a $750 Visa Giftcard or a pair of Normatec Boots

We’re feeling the gratitude this season, so we’re giving back to YOU with our Thankful Thanksgiving Giveaway! Enter for a chance to win some amazing prizes that’ll keep you motivated and moving through the holiday season. Whether you’re looking to level up your recovery game or just treat yourself, we’ve got something special lined up!

Look below for full rules and guidelines, and make sure to enter by December 6th! Winners will be announced on December 11th. Let’s make this Thanksgiving one to remember—good luck!

Tag us on Facebook at Physio Room or on Instagram @physioroomco.
Share your experience and leave us a review here: Google Review.

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How Does Hip Pain Happen for Runners?

Hip pain in runners can often be linked to tight or weak hip flexors or issues with running form. If you’re experiencing pain in the front of your hip or near your groin or lateral hip, it could be related to how your foot strikes the ground.

Check if the foot on the affected side is turning outward (external rotation). This might be due to increased tension or weakness in your glutes or because your body is trying to avoid hip flexion pain by altering your movement. When the glutes aren’t doing their job properly, the TFL (a muscle on the side of your hip) might take over during the running stride, which can lead to pain on the lateral or posterior hip, as well as with hip flexion.

How Do We Fix It?

Hip flexion pain can occur when the posterior capsule of the hip tightens, with glute tendinopathies or a true hip impingement (FAI). All of these diagnoses can cause the hip flexor muscles to feel pinched because the head of the femur can’t move freely in the hip joint. 

To address this, we need to strengthen and coordinate all the muscles around the hip joint, not just the glutes or hip extensors. This includes the adductors, hip flexors, abductors, extensors, and the glutes responsible for internal and external rotation.

Exercises to Consider:

• Eccentric banded hip flexion
• Yoga block hip internal rotation (IR)
• Copenhagens
• Romanian Deadlifts (RDLs)
• Squats
• Bulgarian split squats

These exercises help improve strength and coordination in the hip area, which can alleviate pain and improve running form.

Strength Training for Runners with Hip Pain

• How does this happen?
  • Hip pain can occur for many reasons, but for runners it can be due to tight/weak hip flexors or impaired running form. 
  • If you’re a runner and you start to notice hip pain in the front of your hip or near your groin, take a look at your foot strike. You might notice that the foot on the affected side is turned into external rotation. This can be from increased tension/weakness in the glute muscles or because the body has sensed weakness or pain with hip flexion and is trying to find a way to avoid moving in that plane of motion. In order to fix this problem the body might start relying on the TFL muscle (lateral hip) to assist more with bringing the leg forward during the eccentric phase of the gait cycle. This can cause pain at the lateral/posterior hip in addition to pain with hip flexion. 
• How do we fix this?
  • Hip flexion becomes painful when the posterior capsule of the hip becomes tight, causing the hip flexor muscles to feel “pinched” because the head of the femur cannot move far enough back in the capsule to allow pain free range of motion when bringing the leg forward.  
  • Like any other joint in the body, when a muscle becomes weak/tight other muscles need to work harder to stabilize or move the joint. 
  • In traditional PT a practitioner might only focus on strengthening the glutes, or hip extensors, because this is the opposing muscle group for the hip flexors. 
  • However in order to truly fix a hip impingement we need to strengthen and improve the coordination for all of the muscles surrounding the hip joint: adductors, flexors, abductors, extensions, and the glute muscles that manage internal and external rotation. 
    • eccentric banded hip flexion 
    • yoga block hip IR 
    • Copenhagens 
    • RDL’s 
    • Squats 
    • Bulgarian split squats 

Targeted strength training can be a game-changer for runners with hip pain. By strengthening and coordinating the muscles around the hip joint—flexors, extensors, adductors, abductors, and rotators—you can reduce discomfort, restore proper movement, and improve performance.

Incorporate exercises like eccentric banded hip flexion, yoga block hip IR, Copenhagens, RDLs, squats, and Bulgarian split squats to build strength and move pain-free. Need help? Our team is here to guide you to stronger, healthier running!

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Will lifting heavy help you PR at your next race?

The goal of every good strength and conditioning coach is to enhance the physical preparedness of athletes for their sport. This kind of  training is done outside of working with a technical coach, in this example – a running coach. S&C coaches have three primary goals for their endurance athletes: improve performance, improve capacity for training, and lower the risk of injury. 

Myths about strength training for runners: 

• Will adding heavy lifts to my training program cause more soreness, and affect my ability to complete longer runs? No. An effective S&C program will focus on intensity over volume through selecting exercises that are pertinent to improving strength and coordination of movements that are specific to runners. There will not be a lot of time wasted on “junk volume,” and adequate recovery time will be built into the program. 
• Will lifting heavy add unwanted muscle bulk that will slow me down? No. A well designed S&C program for endurance runners would focus on power production, strength, and functional exercises to improve performance without increasing bulk. 

How does strength and conditioning benefit running performance? S&C programs are designed to cause several adaptations to the neuromuscular system. They will improve your body’s ability to generate force, more effectively use elastic energy from tendons, and help you run with more efficiency which will help you run farther by preventing muscle fatigue. 

All of this is to say – If you are an athlete, you should train like an athlete. Here is how you can incorporate S&C into your endurance training program:

If you want to run farther… 

Plyometrics/Power: Plyometrics: 3x/week @ 50 reps per session// Power: 30-70% of 1RM performed @ high velocity for 3-5 reps per set. 

Plyometrics are exercises that are used to make you more explosive in your movements – like pushing off the ground more forcefully as you’re running, and accepting the force through your tendons as you land. When you teach your body to rely on the elastic properties of tendons to repeatedly create force off the ground, your muscles will fatigue at a slower rate and you can run farther. 

Power exercises should focus on lifting a lighter weight fast. Because of the focus on speed you should reduce weight to 30-70% of your 1RM and focus on patterns that include “triple extension” (more on that later). Including plyometrics and power in your training benefits your feet, achilles/calves, hips, knees, and ankles which are all common sites of injury for endurance runners. 

If you want to run faster… 

Strength training: 2-3x/week @ 80% or more of your 1RM for 3-6 reps/set

Strength is required for muscle groups to produce force during coordinated movements. If you want to run faster, you need to be able to produce a high level of force rapidly. Running speed is directly related to the amount of force your body is able to produce against the ground. Also, it is no surprise that runners tend to suffer from common overuse injuries, known as tendinopathies. These occur due to the high volume and repetitive loading on the body (joints and lower limbs in particular for runners). When you strength train you are strategically placing load through a muscle with the goal of increasing its tolerance to repetitive stress. Training in this way helps reduce the risk of injury. 

My advice is to focus on one major lift, that you will perform heavy, per training block (4 week period). If you are training for strength you should focus on 80% or more of your 1RM for 3-6 reps/set. A heavy stimulus and fewer reps per set are required to create these adaptations. 

If you want to focus on running mechanics to make your body more resilient… 

Dynamic warm up/functional exercises: 3x/week @ 15-30 minute sessions. These can be performed after a short duration/high intensity training run. 

As discussed above, we want to focus on selecting exercises specifically for runners so we don’t waste time/effort on “junk volume.” For runners, a dynamic warm up should include hip mobility, single leg stability, hamstring activation, calf strength, and trunk control. Strength that you acquire in the gym does not always translate to activity unless you train it to do so. We want to make sure the strength you are acquiring from heavy lifting can be used to express force well during running. 

So for endurance runners it is important to choose exercises that will develop force to improve running and should involve the lower body producing “triple extension,” which is the action of the ankles, knees, and hips straightening in a coordinated pattern. Think of jumping straight up to create this movement. This type of training allows your body to accelerate at a high level of force similar to a running stride.  

In conclusion… 

No one falls in love with strength training by doing bridges or core work. Lifting heavy, training for powerful movements, and teaching our bodies to absorb and use high forces is vital to causing adaptations that will benefit your running performance. So will lifting heavy help you PR? If you follow a well designed S&C program, progressively increase your lifts, and provide plenty of recovery time… then yes, it will. 

P.S. Don’t forget to check out the Runner’s Checklist for a complete guide to running.

Sources: “Strength and Conditioning for Endurance Runners,” (Blagrove)

The post Endurance Athletes: The Common Disconnect With Strength Training.  appeared first on Physio Room.

Before picking up a kettlebell to complement your endurance training, the first step is often to unravel suboptimal movement patterns. 

What causes these patterns? 

The human body’s desire for efficiency (when cycling and running) tend to enhance movement patterns unique to each person, a.k.a a neuromuscular rut. 

Challenging and changing default patterns is the hardest part of any rehab or performance program. It only gets harder with age. 

Are weak muscles to blame? 

Unlikely. For cyclists, poor awareness with the sport’s primary movements, hip hinge and lunge, are often the root cause of knee or low back pain. Layering weights on top of bad movement patterns exacerbates issues, or at best, performance and wellness benefits are mitigated. 

Most that struggle with low back pain don’t realize that “the core” includes our gluteal muscles. The hip hinge for cyclists is a key comment to more fun on the bike with less pain. 

The first step, which is common even among elite athletes, is for clients to proficiently recruit and identify well with the left and right side glute complex. Then have the glute be the primary sensation during functional movement patterns such as hip hinge, squat and lunge. 

Mentally and physically reorganizing how we move is often the most powerful, and most challenging, component towards resolving long standing low back pain. 

Learning to move better is a skill. This is where a great physical therapist can use their expertise in identifying detrimental movement patterns to help you move more efficiently and maximize your athletic performance. 

Check out this article by Training Peak for the best strength exercises for cyclists.

The post Endurance Athletes: The Common Disconnect With Strength Training.  appeared first on Physio Room.

Do you have low back and/or knee tightness when riding? 

The gist: There are 6 primal functional movements of the human body. Of those, the hinge and lunge are the two primary movements for mountain biking. Mastery of these two movements off the bike provides numerous riding advantages, but ultimately leads to more fun and less back pain on the bike. 

Squat vs Hip Hinge:

The What: Squat biases the knee and quads whereas the hinge biases the hips and glutes. 

The Why: Joint angle influences muscle function = Put your body in a position that takes advantage of our workhorse gluteal muscles to reduce back pain on the bike. .

Part 1:(Hip hinge vs squat) 

Part 2:(cycling specific hip hinge)  

Lunge Pattern:

The What: Pedaling is essentially a lunge pattern performed over and over. And over. 

The Why: Large left vs right lunge asymmetries and poor dynamic control are also present during the pedal stroke, leaving untapped performance and comfort on the table. 

Part 1: (click here and watch the pedaling dynamics self assessment)  

Bike Fit for High School Riders

Why are bike fits important for all ages and levels of riders?

The latest and greatest bike doesn’t mean much if the rider is not set up to take full advantage.

Comprehensive bike fitting not only involves adjustments of the bike itself (biomechanical), but also teaches riders about their compensatory movements (proprioception) and how to move well (neuromuscular) on the bike once it has been fit. 

Physio Room Bike Fitting: Biomechanical changes + Neuromuscular Awareness 

How a rider pedals, functions, and feels on the bike are often overlooked components during a bike fit. As a physio and experienced bike fitter I can help ensure form and function meet.  

How a bike fit can improve performance

• Reduced injury risk allows training consistency without unwanted time off 
• Improved posture and body position aids breathing pattern and oxygen delivery 
• Improved efficiency via improved muscle recruitment and load distribution through muscles and joints
• Less overall energy waste 

Rundown

Ultimately,  preparation and recovery and optimizing riding comfort and efficiency equates to performance and fun for any rider. 

Tim Tracy, DPT, OCS, CSCS: Physical Therapist, Bike Fitter

The post #1 way to prevent low back pain on the bike appeared first on Physio Room.

Whether you’re an avid biker or you enjoy a good ride every now and again as a hobby, it’s SO important to know how to prepare and recover from each and every ride!

Biking without preparation and recovery can cause injuries that we see and treat all of the time here at Physio Room. 

It’s a big mistake to just jump on your bike, go for a ride, and then head home without taking care of your body, prepping it for the ride, and recovering from the ride.

We want to help you avoid the pain and discomfort of a biking injury, so we encourage you to try this exercise the next time you’re getting ready for a ride. 

Activating your posterior chain will help remind your brain to activate the glutes at the appropriate time of the pedal stroke. You don’t need to fatigue those muscles, but give them a little boost to get through the ride.

You can activate and wake up your posterior chain by doing a basic squat motion. Assume a wide stance squat position and do a few overhead squats, slow and controlled. You could hold a PVC pipe over your head or kettlebell/dumbbell to your chest during these positions to activate a deeper stretch.

When you’re doing overhead squats, you’re turning on the posterior chain musculature of your back. 

Don’t do this exercise until your muscles feel fatigued or sore, just do enough reps to get them turning. 

There are other muscle groups and areas of the body to pay attention to when preparing to ride. Like the spine!

When you’re riding a bike, you spend a lot of time in a high phonic posture with a rounded back. When you sit in sustained postures like that, the spine tends to move backwards. 

When recovering from your ride, spend a little bit of time with a foam roller just below your shoulder blades. Extend that foam roller about 5-10 times, opening up the spine. 

You can also maintain a sustained position with the foam roller below your shoulder blades and relax into that position for about 20 or 30 seconds. It doesn’t have to be a long time, and you can do it at various levels of the spine.

But even if it’s just one level, you’re getting the repeated extension that is going to be beneficial to get your spine ready for the ride.

You can do this while you’re unwinding at the end of the night, watching TV, or even directly after your ride so you don’t forget. 
Want to watch and learn more about how to activate your muscles before your ride and how to recover after? Check out our full YouTube video featuring Dr. Nate Henry of Physio Room and Brian Maslach from Enduro Bites.

The post How to Prep and Recover for Every Bike Ride appeared first on Physio Room.