Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

I'm not familiar witht the Psoas technique of riding, but without speaking 
to the instructor, I gather "balanced flexion" the writer talks about is the 
psoas working eccentrically (the "brake" action) and not concentrically (the 
"go" action and the muscle action most of us think of when we think of 
muscles working).  I would be interested to learn more.  In the general 
public, it is not uncommon to see a tight psoas which correlates to a arched 
back/flexed hips and would make it difficult to find the level "neutral 
spine" of the pelvis which is where you want to sit for balanced riding.

However, before you go assumming you need a lengethed psoas so you can get a 
level pelvis in the saddle, be careful.  It's not always "one size fits 
all".  You may be a person who needs it, or you may not.  Most of us in the 
world are somewhat crooked to begin with.  It gets way more complicated but 
very fascinating ... you may have short muscles on one side of your body and 
long ones on the other because of the muscles adaptively changing for our 
"crookedness".  In general, many people have long adductor (inner thigh) 
muscles and tight hip flexors on the left ... which would correlate with a 
pelvis shifted foward on the left and a left leg rotated out.  (you can 
observe this on some riders from behind ... they may also complain of back, 
neck, SI pain)  And just the opposite on the other side; long hip flexors 
(psoas being one of them) on the right with tight hamstrings.  Our muscles 
work in 3-D and diagonal patterns as well not just straight lines :)

As riders, we pride ourselves on strong inner thigh muscles.  I prided 
myself on being a rider with strong inner thigh (adductor muscles) muscles 
on BOTH sides.  Come to find out ... when I tried exercises to help 
"straighten" my crookedness (which was not terribly obvious ... but just 
something I learned through my schooling)  I could not activate my left 
adductor muscles without cramping!  They were either too weak, or more than 
likely being overridden by a more dominant muscle pattern.  With exercises 
specific to my needs, I am now able to activate my left inner thigh muscles 
(to help hold me in a straighter position and more balanced pelvis) without 
cramping!

Bottom line, don't forget that there are many muscles working together in 
balance while riding, not just one.  Try different things and figure out 
what works best for you and realize that it is not all black and white.  
That's what I have to do in my practice to do what is best for my patient.  
Take bits and pieces and put them together.

Please continue to share what you've learned and resources!

Peggy Cummings clinic and book is great.  Much of my physical therapy 
practice is based on "old school" and work from Myokinematic Restoration.

Lynne Loverich (physical therapist)

p.s.  If you ever wondered why your thigh muscles hurt so badly after a ride 
... especially a fast ride where you do more standing ... it's because they 
have worked eccentrically which is actually more of a workout for muscles 
than concentrically.


"Yesterday is already a dream and tomorrow is only a vision, but today 
well-lived makes every yesterday a dream of happiness and every tomorrow a 
vision of hope." - Sanskrit proverb



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