BOTULINUM TOXIN MAY BE ABLE TO HELP CYCLISTS WHO SUFFER FROM KNEE PROBLEMS RIDE IN GREATER COMFORT, SO DON’T WORRY ABOUT ERASING THOSE LAUGH LINES.
Even the most committed cyclists can be sidelined by knee pain, which can make even the act of pedaling intolerably painful, particularly on steep inclines or when exerting themselves to their limits. Even though there are a lot of natural approaches that can help alleviate knee problems, such as stretching before and after a ride and getting a bike that is properly fitted to you, there are times when medical intervention is required.
Botox is a treatment that can help with this issue. An effective treatment for injured cyclists and runners was found to be a combination of botulinum toxin injections (under the brand name Dysport) and physiotherapy, according to a recent study conducted by Imperial College London and published in the American Journal of Sports Medicine. For the purpose of this study, 45 individuals reported experiencing symptoms of lateral patellofemoral overload syndrome (LPOS), which include extreme pain in the front and the side of the knee.
The members of the research team observed that the patients frequently used the muscles in their tensor fascia lata in their hips rather than their gluteal muscles. This was a finding that the researchers found particularly interesting. The participants’ tensor fascia lata continued to overcompensate for the pain they were experiencing, which reduced the effectiveness of the exercises that were intended to strengthen their glutes and alleviate the discomfort they were experiencing. They had a hunch that this was the reason why previous physiotherapy treatments had not been successful.
The participants in the study initially attempted physiotherapy on its own, but this did not prove to be effective. After that, the researchers injected Dysport into the front hip muscle, which caused it to relax and consequently forced the gluteal muscles to exert greater effort. After receiving these injections, the patient then participated in physical therapy sessions, which assisted in further strengthening their butt muscles. A little less than 70 percent of the riders who were treated as part of that test group remained pain-free in the subsequent five years following the intervention. That’s huge, considering the alternative: Studies that were conducted in the past revealed that almost all patients continued to experience pain following more conventional treatment methods such as physiotherapy alone or steroid injections.
A significant number of the athletes who took part in this research had tried every other possible course of treatment, so this was their very last resort. Although this study has the potential to be a game-changing breakthrough in the fight to keep riders with LPOS on the road for longer, it is crucial to remember that focusing on proper bike fit, adequate recovery time (which includes stretching upon rides and taking a few days off when necessary), and appropriate muscle balance would assist you in keeping knee pain at bay before you have to consider Botox.
