Monthly Newsletter                                                             May 2012 

HARTZ Logo


                         

Pedal to Save...

With gas prices fluctuating and continually threatening to climb to the $4/gallon range, more people are turning to their bicycles to pedal gas signaround town so they can limit their trips to the gas station.

 

Whether you're an avid rider or simply a cyclist who's tooling around town to cut down on cash spent at the pump, it is vital for your bike to be properly-fit.

...But Keep it Safe!

 

Bicycle-related pains and injuries are commonly associated with poor bike fit. Following these tips will help you minimize the risk of injury:

 

Basic Postural Tips

  • Change hand position on the handlebars frequently for upper-body comfort.bike posture
  • Keep a controlled but relaxed grip of the handlebars
  • When pedaling, your knee should be slightly bent at the bottom of the pedal stroke. Avoid rocking your hips while pedaling.

Common Bicycling Pains

  • Anterior (Front) Knee Pain -- Possible causes are having a saddle that is too low, pedaling at a low speed, using your quadriceps muscles too much in pedaling, misaligned bicycle cleat for those who use clipless pedals, and muscle imbalance in your legs (strong quadriceps and weak hamstrings).
  • Neck Pain-- Possible causes include poor handlebar or saddle position. A poorly placed handle bar might be too low, at too great a reach, or at too short a reach. A saddle with excessive downward tilt can also be a source of neck pain.
  • Lower Back Pain -- Possible causes include inflexible hamstrings, low cadence (pedal speed), using your quadriceps muscles too much in pedaling, poor back strength, and too-long or too-low handlebars.
  • Hamstring Tendinitis -- Possible causes are inflexible hamstrings, high saddle, misaligned bicycle cleat for those who use clipless pedals, and poor hamstring strength.
  • Hand Numbness or Pain -- Possible causes are short-reach handlebars, poorly placed brake levers, and a downward tilt of the saddle.
  • Foot Numbness or Pain -- Possible causes are using quadriceps muscles too much in pedaling, low cadence, faulty foot mechanics, and misaligned bicycle cleat for those who use clipless pedals.
  • Illiotibial Band Tendinitis -- Possible causes are too-high saddle, leg length difference, and misaligned bicycle cleat for those who use clipless pedals.  

Physical Therapy Can Help 

If you're experiencing any of these pains, your physical therapist can assess and help heal most biking-related pains and prevent future injuries. Remember, under Direct Access you do not need a physican referral to make a PT appointment with most insurances. Call one of HARTZ PT's three offices today and we will answer your insurance questions and schedule an evaluation to help you get and stay pain free!


Any reputable bike shop can help fit you properly to your bike. For a list of local bicycle shops, biking routes, and to learn about efforts that are underway to make Lancaster a more bike-friendly community click here. Read about the Lancaster Bicycle Club's scenic tours by visiting this link.

 

For those who are avid bikers looking for the most cutting edge bicycle fitting experience Lancaster County has to offer, check out Orange Street Velo.

 

 

 

Fun Bike Facts

 About 100 million bicycles are manufactured in the world each year.

Orville and Wilbur Wright operated a small bike shop in Dayton, OH. They used their workshop to build the 1903 Wright flyer.

flyer

  

Though off road bikes were used in the early
19th century
the actual mountain bike prototypes first came about in the 1970's.

Amsterdam is often referred to as the bike capital of the world with bicycles making up 40% of its traffic movement.

It is long believed that professional bicyclists shave their legs for better aerodynamcis.


The truth is shaving has nothing to do with aerodynamics. The most common reasons riders shave are to look good and to be able to treat leg injuries easier. 

 

Cycling is proven to be a good form of exercise, helping to reduce weight, cholesterol levels and blood pressure.

 heart

Like us on Facebook

 

Please like our two  pages by clicking the links below. We appreciate your support!

 

Hartz Physical Therapy 

  

Fall Blast - Hartz Physical Therapy  

 

 

HARTZ PT is proud to announce the addition of a new physical therapist to our staff. Please join us in welcoming Dan Herrmann to our growing team!

Dan
Dan Herrmann, DPT
 
Dan joined the staff of HARTZ Physical Therapy in April, 2012. He graduated in January 2012 with a Doctorate of Physical Therapy from Arcadia University in Glenside, PA. 

 

Dan has a special interest in treating patients with a variety of orthopedic and sports injuries. He gained experience in these areas during a six month internship at Lehigh Valley Hospital's outpatient center. He also treated numerous high school athletes with idiopathic knee pain, as well as post-operatively following ACL repair.

 

Dan treats patients in our Lititz office.
HARTZ Physical Therapy now has three convenient locations.
For more information visit our website or call to schedule an appointment.

100 Highlands Dr.
Lititz, PA  17543
717.625.2228

 

90 Good Dr.
Lancaster, PA  17603
717.735.8880

 

1635  W. Main St.

Ephrata, PA  17522 
717.738.0004