STRIVING FOR SYMMETRY UK fitter and physio Scott Cornish explains why chasing symmetry isn’t always the best approach in fitting.
A
symmetry and malalignment is
force production and efficiency, whether it's
omnipresent amongst the human
through the use of wedges, foot beds or a
population, and I’m no exception.
strength and conditioning programme (S&C).
The common notion during my physiotherapy
Current thinking in bike fitting suggests that
studies was that asymmetry and malalignment
pedalling symmetry is the ideal scenario. But the
(compared to the idealised human symmetry)
key to any intervention is that it is constantly
was bad for performance and the root cause of
scrutinised in the longterm, checking for any
many of the symptoms of pain and dysfunction,
possible positive or negative effects.
which was carried across in my early bike fit
For the non-professional cyclist, this
education. ‘Fixing’ it was the focus for improving
constant re-assessment may not always be
performance, even if there were no presenting
possible (location, time, cost), hence an
issues of pain or discomfort.
approach of seeking efficient function within the
With mixed results from the early days of simply following a process of assessing for
acute time frame setting of the fit studio, and a follow-up where possible.
asymmetry and malalignment, which is easy to find in anyone, I altered my approach from trying to ‘fix’ these ‘issues’ to assessing and treating for pain-free, efficient function. Professional cyclists are constantly looking
LEVELS OF ASYMMETRY There are many levels to human asymmetry and it isn’t always the bad guy it’s made out to be, as we can function perfectly well outside of
for marginal gains, having their biomechanics
the idealised symmetry and it won't necessarily
regularly assessed and re-assessed for maximal
lead to an increased injury risk.