Bytager the publication "Muscle fibrosis: how to understand and treat it to continue riding and running without pain?"
Persistent pain, stiffness, loss of flexibility… Muscle fibrosis can be a real nightmare for cyclists and runners. Often overlooked, it results from poor healing after an injury, trauma or inflammation. And once established, it can seriously compromise the fluidity of the pedal stroke or the lightness of the stride. But then, how can it be reconborn? And above all, how to treat it effectively to prevent it from becoming a hindrance to performance?
By Jeff Tatard – Photos: Grok / DR
To answer these questions, we interviewed specialists : Mathieu Moretti, director of the KINESIS center in Méry-sur-Oise, Dr. Laurent Aumont, doctor to PSG stars, and Kristel Beveraggi, osteopath specializing in yoga at IMS Préfontaine in Saint-Germain-en-Laye. We also collected the testimony of Ludovic, an amateur cyclist, and Timothée, a runner, who had to deal with this pathology.
What is muscle fibrosis and why does it affect athletes? Muscle fibrosis is the body's response to injury or inflammation. When a muscle is damaged, the body repairs the tissue by producing collagen. But sometimes this process does not go well and leads to the formation of a rigid fibrous area, which limits the elasticity and functionality of the muscle.
« In athletes, we often see fibrosis in the hamstrings, quadriceps or even the Achilles tendon, particularly after a tear, poorly treated tendonitis or excessive training. " explains Mathieu Moretti.
In the case of cyclists, the muscles most affected are the hamstrings and quadriceps., due to repeated stress and microtraumas linked to prolonged effort. For runners, the Achilles tendon and calves are risk areas, particularly after poorly recovered tendinopathy.
How does reconto give birth to muscular fibrosis?
Fibrosis manifests itself through muscle stiffness, a feeling of blockage, and sometimes deep pain.. " The tricky thing is that the pain is not necessarily constant, it can disappear when hot and return when cold.", says Dr. Laurent Aumont.
To establish an accurate diagnosis, several methods exist:
• The clinical examination, which involves palpation and tensioning of the muscle to detect a loss of elasticity.
• Ultrasound or MRI, which allows the fibrous area to be precisely identified.
« For an athlete, the biggest danger is to ignore the first signs and continue to push themselves, which can worsen the fibrosis and slow down recovery.", warns Kristel Beveraggi.
Athletes’ testimonies: when fibrosis becomes a hindrance
Ludovic, an amateur cyclist, discovered muscular fibrosis after a fall which left him with a deep hematoma on his thigh:
« At first, I thought it was just a passing pain. But several weeks later, I still had this feeling of blockage in the quadriceps, as if my muscle no longer wanted to function normally. I understood that there was a problem when I could no longer send power, especially when it comes to riding at 100% of FTP with my hands down."
Timothée, a runner, was also slowed down by fibrosis of the Achilles tendon after poorly treated tendinitis:
« I had started running too quickly after an injury. I started running again with a diffuse pain that would pass when it was hot, but would systematically come back after training. Until the day when my tendon seemed to “freeze”, making it impossible to roll out my stride correctly.
How to treat muscle fibrosis?
Physiotherapy techniques: the essential step
Treatment of fibrosis is largely based on functional rehabilitation and stimulation of damaged tissues. Among the most effective techniques:
• Deep massages and the hooktage : help break up adhesions and restore mobility to the muscles.
• Progressive stretching : essential for restoring elasticity to tissues.
• Targeted muscle strengthening : to avoid compensations and rebalance the muscle chains.
• Shockwave or LPG Cellu M6 therapies : used to stimulate the regeneration of muscle tissue.
• The O2 laser : a photobiomodulation technique that accelerates cell regeneration and improves the vascularization of scar tissue.
« The goal is to restart the vascularization of the affected area and improve the flexibility of the muscle. But be careful, this requires patience, you don't "break" fibrosis in a few sessions", insists Mathieu Moretti.
Osteopathy and yoga: allies for optimal recovery
Osteopathy and yoga can also play a key role in recovery. Osteopathy helps to remove blockages and restore joint and tissue mobility., explains Kristel Beveraggi.
As for yoga, it can help improve flexibility and reduce chronic muscle tension. Deep stretching postures, such as those in Yin Yoga, are particularly effective for working on fascia and limiting the rigidity of scar tissue., adds the osteopath.
Prevention: preventing fibrosis from returning
Once fibrosis has been treated, the goal is to prevent recurrences. To do this:
• ÉAvoid recovering too quickly after an injury: a weakened muscle is more vulnerable.
• Work on mobility and stretching regularly : especially after exercise.
• Adopt active recovery : massage, cryotherapy, self-massages with massage roller.
• Pay attention to the first signs : persistent discomfort is a warning signal.
« The best weapon against fibrosis is to have a global approach: muscle strengthening, mobility work and well-managed recovery." concludes Dr. Laurent Aumont.
Conclusion: regain control over your body
Muscle fibrosis is not inevitable, but it requires serious and appropriate treatment.If ignored, it can become a real obstacle to performance and the pleasure of riding or racing.
Thanks to the advice of specialists and feedback from athletes who have suffered from it, you now have all the keys to better understand, prevent and treat it. So, ready to resume the route or the paths without pain?
