Pain-free pedalling: A pre-event mobility intervention reduces musculoskeletal discomfort in recreational cyclists

Recreational cyclists often participate in events that exceed their usual activity levels, increasing the risk of musculoskeletal discomfort. Reduced flexibility is a contributing factor, yet no studies have examined mobility interventions to address this issue. This randomized controlled trial investigated the effects of a 6-week pre-event mobility intervention on musculoskeletal discomfort scores, the number of participants reporting discomfort by body region, and active flexibility in recreational cyclists participating in a two-day, 250-km ride. Fifteen participants were allocated to a control group (n = 7), maintaining their usual training, or an intervention group (n = 8), completing the mobility intervention. All participants completed questionnaires and flexibility tests before and after the intervention. The intervention group showed a significant reduction in musculoskeletal discomfort scores (12 [4.3] pre vs 4.5 [3.5] post; p = 0.029), whereas no significant change was observed in the control group (10 [13.0] vs 12 [11.0]; p = 0.446). The number of participants reporting discomfort by body region increased in the control group but remained stable in the intervention group, with no significant between-group difference (MD = 1.2; p = 0.052). Greater improvements in active flexibility were observed in the intervention group for the posterior chain (MD = −8.6; t = −2.663; p = 0.013), while flexibility of the soleus decreased in both groups but declined less in the intervention group (MD = −2.8; t = −2.146; p = 0.041). These findings suggest that adding mobility intervention before a recreational cycling event may reduce discomfort and support flexibility.