Should I stay off the bike for a day or two?

Anonymous

Since I went for a run on Monday evening, my legs have been very stiff. I'd not run before then for nearly two years.
As far as I can guess, it's just stiffness - when I stretch my thighs, the pain subsides for a short while.

Now, what I want to know is, assuming there are people far more knowledgeable on health issues than me here, is...
Should I stay off the bike for a couple of days until the pain has gone?

I'd normally just ignore it and head out regardless, but since suffering from a nasty knee injury for most of last year, I'm a bit more concerned about causing lasting damage.

I mean, I'd like to head out for a ride right now, but I REALLY want to head out for a proper ride on the weekend.
Do you reckon a quick blast tonight might mean I won't be up for it on the weekend?

M1llh0use

personally i'd just do a very short blast to stretch then a bath with radox and a protein drink.

then go for broke saturday*









*please note i am no health professional and any advice taken is purely at your own risk.

aneesh99

I guess going for a quick gentle ride couldn't do much harm, but err on the side of caution. Lower limb injuries can be a nightmare to ditch, I've had ankle and foot issue's for the best part of a year now. Do what you feel you can manage, and get a physio, well, a good physio

Anonymous

You'll have to excuse my ignorance, how do I "Get" a physio?
I saw one to help with my knee, but I had to be referred to see her by my GP.

In the meantime, I'm off for a quick blast then. I just stopped smoking again this week and I can barely stay still now!

mea00csf

good sports physios tend to take private clients, though they're not cheap. The physio i use used to work as a physio for the RAF, not cheap at about £50 an hour, but my work health insurance paid

Anonymous

Ah, that's not an option then. Can't afford anything like that, and my current employer doesn't offer health insurance.

butcher of bakersfield

Aye, NHS you'll need to be reffered. You can always ask, but I'm not sure they'll take too kindly to the request after you tell them that your legs are a bit stiff because you went for a run..

I'm pretty sure you'll find a private physio for less than £50, but as always, you get what you pay for. But then, sometimes you don't.

aneesh99

yeehaamcgee wrote:

You'll have to excuse my ignorance, how do I "Get" a physio?

Apologies for the vagueness, yeah, I meant a private sports physio. They aren't cheap but if they're good, it makes a ton of difference. I'm lucky, my dad is a doctor,his best mates parnter is a physio, which is always a winner when I don't have to part with the cash, on the flip side, she shouts at me a lot for ignoring her advice....

Anyway, how's the leg doing?

delta5

Don't think you need to stay off the bike - but do a thorough warm-up before riding to get your circulation going, and your myoglobin oxygen and glucose levels up; take it easy, and do a decent warm-down & stretch afterwards to help dissipate any lactic acid. This is all the more important after injuries, and as you get older. Age is a real bugger when you're still 18 in your head.

I had my right ACL reconstructed six years ago and since then added a few other battle scars, also on my right. Now, if I forget to warm up I know all about it - even a short cold sprint for a bus, or up / down stairs (which I do habitually - hate trudging up stairs), can make the next few days hell.

skullthaw

try the local uni they generally do it cheaper even for non students

Anonymous

Thanks for the tips guys, I went for a quick blast on the bike in the end, and all was good.