Mountain Bike Fitness Training
Looking At The Introduction Of The Mountain Bike Into The World Of Professional Football
As professional footballers are valued so highly by their clubs and paid large wages; they are prohibited from taking part in extreme sports. The clubs’ insurance companies refuse to cover players that undertake such activities due to the high risk of injury. However, we have seen in recent years the introduction of the mountain bike into the world of professional football. This article examines the thinking behind the move.
Overcoming injury
The mountain bike was first introduced into professional football as a way of aiding injured players in their rehabilitation process. Of course players were not permitted undertake extreme mountain biking, but their clubs did realise that casual riding offered benefits in recovery. The reasoning for this was that clubs felt that cycling was a gentle and non-impact way of rebuilding muscle tissue in the early stages of recovery. Previously swimming had been the preferred exercise for the early stages of rehabilitation, but clubs started using both activities together to increase joint movement as well as build muscle.
Injury avoidance
Physiotherapists and coaches then realised that the mountain bike could be used to actually prevent injuries, and its role in football evolved further. During the days building up to an important match clubs always fear that their key players will pick up an injury. This risk can be minimised by asking players to undertake fitness training on bikes as opposed to running, thus removing the chances of twisted ankles and impact injuries to the joints.
Improving performance
Football clubs then realised that the mountain bike also provided a risk free way of players undertaking short burst exercise that is required for sprinting during matches. Instead of asking players to undertake sprints and shuttle runs to develop the short burst stamina that is so important to footballers; they began asking for intensive bursts on the mountain bike. This enabled players to build all levels of required fitness, without risking their body.
SWAT Fitness & Performance Training 2009, Part 1
