A few days ago we talked about a study on the use of Elastic Taping applied to the neck, a study that was also made possible thanks to the use of our Moover One. Today we’re introducing a very important new study, published by “Sports”, which investigates the effects of adopting a specific and prolonged posture on cyclists, proposing to evaluate the spinal column in a sample of amateur cyclists and to compare it with a sample of non-cyclists, who are still athletes, using a 3D scanning method. This study was conducted, with the aid of Spine 3D and its non-invasive (LiDAR) technology, by a team of specialists led by Antonio Patti, Antonino Bianco, Valerio Giustino, Flavia Figlioli and Giuseppe Messina.

The cyclist’s posture and body adaptation
The literature on biomechanics in relation to sports activities is extensive and we are not surprising anyone by pointing out the fact that some specific postures – such as that of the athletes in question – influence the curves of the spinal column. Cycling is a very popular sport, even at amateur level, so it is normal that there are several studies on the subject. Cycling is characterised by a close relationship between the human body and a mechanical means. The particular position on the bike assumed by cyclists means that the spinal column must also assume a specific position. The aim, of course, is to achieve better aerodynamics.

A professional (but also an amateur) cyclist undergoes long and intense training sessions, and this has a great impact on the spinal column. The spinal column of cyclists undergoes a three-dimensional reorganisation during pedalling, with alterations in the lumbar lordotic curve. Cyclists, in their constant quest for optimal aerodynamics, tend to increase pelvic tilt and lumbar flexion.

The study: methods and materials
Forty-eight athletes (resident in Sicily), twenty-five cyclists and twenty-three non-cyclists were selected for the control group to carry out this study. The Spine 3d device (Sensor Medica) was used to assess the participants’ spines. The result of the analysis is quite clear. In the group of professional cyclists, a greater inclination of the spine was found than in the participants of the control group. As we mentioned earlier, one of the consequences of cyclists’ posture is alterations in the lumbar lordotic curve, so the study raises the possibility that the onset of lower back pain in cyclists may be due precisely to a reduction in lumbar lordosis. Other evidence from the study is the possibility of monitoring an athlete’s health on a regular basis with the use of non-invasive devices such as Spine 3d, in order to prevent and reduce musculoskeletal deficits.

Conclusions
An important consideration of the study is the fact that even amateur cycling could lead to spinal deformities. This awareness underlines the importance of regular checks to assess the presence of postural alterations with the aim of planning training with a focus on prevention. As emphasised in the study’s conclusions, ‘regular assessment could improve the methodology of training programmes’. Regularity, which today, thanks to new technologies (Spine 3d) guarantees results and safety, also and above all in the sports field.