Common Injuries Encountered By Cyclists

Neck & Mid Back Injuries

• Causes – This problem is typically due to over exertion of the muscles that extend the neck and raise the shoulders. The cause of this is usually the rams-horn style of handlebars that cause the rider to hold the head and neck in a hyperextended position for prolonged periods of time. Some individuals have problems with this due to the loss of the normal forward curve (lordosis) in their neck.  This type of structural problem is best addressed with chiropractic care.
• Symptoms – Spasm, tenderness and soreness of the muscles of the neck and upper back. Pain is usually felt with extension and rotation of the neck.
• Treatment – Initially stretching and strengthening the muscles of the neck and upper back is advisable. If the problem persists, it maybe due to structural problems in your neck.  If the neck and upper back pain persists for more than a week you need to be evaluated.

Lower Back  & Injuries

• Causes – Lower back strain and pain can occur when an unconditioned rider rides too long with the back flexed forward.  Other causes are obesity, weak trunk muscles or biomechanical dysfunction in the form of lumbar and sacroiliac subluxations .
• Symptoms – Decreased mobility of the trunk and spasms of the lower back. Pain is usually felt with flexion and rotation of the trunk muscles.  In many instances, lower back pain will be felt more on one side due to asymmetrical loading of the sacroiliac joints. If not corrected the individual may begin experiencing Sciatica.
• Treatment – Strengthening and stretching of the torso, lower back and hip musculature will help remedy many of the lower back symptoms many riders experience due to muscular weakness. If the injury has caused pain due to misalignments in the lower back or sacroiliac area strength training will only irritate the condition. If this is the case, chiropractic evaluation is indicated.

Trochanteric Bursitis

• Causes – Trochanteric bursitis is an inflammation of the bursa on the side of the hip, typically caused by the gluteus medius or iliotibial band rubbing over the bursa and causing irritation.  The injury is most common in cyclists with a saddle adjusted too high, unequal leg lengths (possible sacroiliac subluxation) or weak hip muscles.
• Symtoms – There is a gradual onset of pain. Typically, the pain is on the side of the hip and will gradually migrate down the side of the leg.  If not properly treated, sleeping on the affected side and climbing stairs will begin to cause pain.
• Treatment – Resting and icing the area is always beneficial.  Trochanteric busitis is usuallly a symptom of riding with a saddle that is too high.  Consider lowering the saddle to limit hip extension with each stroke.  Once the pain begins to subside begin stretching the gluteus medius and the IT band.

As I mentioned in the beginning of this post it is very important to have a professional help you to set up your bike.  Ergonomics are not just for the office.  A properly set up bike will not only increase your bike riding enjoyment but it will also minimize your chances of overuse injuries. Below is a video of a professional setting up a riders bicycle.

I hope this post has been helpful.  If you live in the Cincinnati area and are still experiencing pain while riding, even though your bike has been professionally fitted to your body give me a call and schedule an exam.

Happy Riding,

Dr. Gould

Finding the actual cause is very important. Typically, people do things that simply “numb” the problem. Numbing the problem however, with various medications only allows the problem to continue, ultimately causing more pain, disability and degeneration. A thorough history and examination with the appropriate diagnostic workup is necessary to find the actual cause of low back pain.

Below are several causes of low back pain:

• Poor Posture – Causes an improper loading of the spine. Improper spinal loading, forces weight to be placed on structures that were not designed to carry weight. This type of compensation ultimately causes pain. In the majority of cases, poor posture is a symptom of years of inadequate exercise and improper sitting postures both at home and at work. Watch your posture. Watch your children’s posture. I tell patients all the time that proper posture in children is critical. I have a saying I use all the time… As the twig is bent the tree shall grow.

• Disc problems – See Disc Problems

• Facet Syndrome – See Facet Syndrome

• Lumbar Subluxations – Misalignments or subluxations are the true enemy of the disc and spinal joints. When your spine becomes subluxated the disc’s normal pumping motion is reduced or in severe cases, completely eliminated due to loss of motion. This pumping motion is needed to pull in nutrients and eliminate waste in both the joints and the discs.

• Osteoarthritis – If the subluxation is not corrected, degenerative processes begin leading to osteoarthritis. This is a degeneration of both the disc and the spinal joints at that same level. Once this happens, the areas above and below the affected area have to compensate for the osteoarthritic area. Over time these areas will begin to become problematic also.

• Pelvic Problems – The pelvis is actually made up of three separate bones. Two side bones or iliums and a center bone called the sacrum. These bones come together and form joints. There are actually three joints in the pelvis. There is a single joint in the front of the pelvis and two in the rear. These joints allow motion to occur when we move and walk. On occasion these joints become misaligned or subluxated. When this happens the lower back can respond by tightening muscles, shifting vertebrae which in turn can cause a stretching of spinal joints. All produce pain.

Eight out of ten people in the Cincinnati area will experience back pain during their lifetime. There are really only two choices of treatment when it comes to back pain. 1) If you choose to treat the symptom you are allowing the problem to get worse. Remember… Eliminating the pain with drugs does not eliminate the problem. 2) If you choose to treat the cause you will be working on eliminating the problem for good. A large percentage of my practice is made up of people that have had low back pain.