What role does podiatry play in Cycling?
PodChatLive is the monthly livestream for the continuing interaction of Podiatrists and also other health professionals whom may be interested in the topic that they cover. It is hosted by Craig Payne from Melbourne, Australia and Ian Griffiths from England, United Kingtom. The show goes out live on Facebook after which is later modified and uploaded to YouTube so more people have access to it. Each episode includes a different guest or selection of guests to speak about a unique area of interest each episode. Questions can be posted live during the Facebook stream and responded to live by the Craig and Ian and guests. The audio version is published as a PodCast offered on iTunes and also Spotify and the other common podcast sources. They have gathered a considerable following with podiatry practitioners which is increasing. PodChatLive can be viewed as one of many ways through which podiatrists may get free qualified professional development hours or ongoing medical learning credits.
Episode eighteen of the show looked over cycling and podiatry and associated issues. The guests were the physiotherapist, Robert Brown and the podiatrist, Nathan White. Rob Brown has been the former head physical therapist for the Orica-GreenEdge pro cycling team and now specialises in cycling analysis, injury and bicycle fit. Nathan White has worked closely with many different elite cyclists throughout Australasia and is the co-founder of the made to order orthoses company Cobra9 Cycling Orthotics. In the episode on cycling they described exactly what a bike fit is made up of and just how essential the bike fit is to prevent injury and increase bicycling economy. In addition they discussed the prevalent foot problems cyclists present with and also the clinical thought pertaining to taking care of them. This was necessary due to the nature of the cycling footwear and the bio-mechanics of bicycling which is very different to running and walking. They additionally had an deatailed conversation around the foot level interventions both within the footwear (orthoses) and external to it (at the interface with the cleat/pedal).