Vail Summit Orthopaedics Blog

• Fore/aft so that the ball of the foot is in line with the pedal spindle
• Side to side so that the 2nd toe is in line with the tibial tuberosity (bump below the kneecap)
• Rotation in foot’s natural position

• Back angle = 45o (smaller angle for more aggressive riding)
• Shoulder to trunk angle = 90o (larger angle for more aggressive riding)
• Elbow angle = 15o to 25o
• Wrists in a neutral position
• Height usually 1-4” below top of saddle
• Width = shoulder tip to shoulder tip in centimeters
• Distance from saddle tip to bars within an inch of elbow tip to middle finger tip

• Height so that the knee angle equals 25o – 35o
• A plumb line dropped from the tibial tuberosity (bump below the kneecap) should intersect with the pedal spindle
• Tilt should be level (tip may be slightly lower for more aggressive riding)
• Width so that weight is distributed on the sit bones

A stress fracture is a tiny crack in the bone caused by repetitive overload. Ankles and feet are the most common sites of stress fractures. People who suddenly begin a serious walking or running program without gradually building up to it are prime candidates for stress fractures. So are people who quickly increase the intensity or distance of their exercise or who switch from running on soft surfaces to hard surfaces.

A common cause of shoulder pain, especially in the over-40 set, is a rotator cuff tear. A rotator cuff tear may result suddenly from a single traumatic event but, is more likely to develop gradually because of repetitive overhead activities.

People who are especially at risk for overuse are those who engage in repetitive overhead motions. These include participants in sports such as baseball, tennis, weight lifting, and rowing. Occupations that make people vulnerable include house painting and jobs that involve heavy lifting.

Continuing our series on the ‘10 most common orthopaedic injuries’, today we take a look at shoulder injuries, which are common particularly among athletes.

One type of shoulder injury is a dislocation which can happen when your shoulder is pulled violently in an extreme direction… forward, backward or downward. A ‘forward slip’ is common and can happen during a fall or a sports injury.

Tennis elbow is a painful condition of the elbow caused by overuse. Most people associate tennis elbow with racquet sports such as tennis, where the backhand swing strain the muscles and tendons of the elbow in a way that leads to the condition. But several other sports and repetitive activities can also put you at risk. Most people who get tennis elbow are between the ages of 30 and 50.

Continuing with our look at the "10 most common orthopaedic injuries", today we focus on plantar fasciitis... a painful condition affecting the bottom of the foot. It is a common cause of heel pain and is sometimes called a heel spur. Plantar fasciitis is usually just on one side. In about 30 percent of all cases, both feet are affected. Plantar fasciitis can develop from a number of underlying causes. Finding the precise reason for the heel pain is sometimes difficult.

Continuing with our look at the "10 most common orthopaedic injuries", today we focus on plantar fasciitis... a painful condition affecting the bottom of the foot. It is a common cause of heel pain and is sometimes called a heel spur. Plantar fasciitis is usually just on one side. In about 30 per cent of all cases, both feet are affected. Plantar fasciitis can develop from a number of underlying causes. Finding the precise reason for the heel pain is sometimes difficult.

In this series, we're looking at the 10 most common orthopaedic injuries, which are: Ankle sprain, Plantar fasciitis, Tennis elbow, ACL injury, Meniscus tear, Shoulder dislocation, Rotator cuff tear, stress fractures, carpal tunnel syndrome, and distal radius fracture (also known as a wrist fracture).