.png)
Cycling is one of the most popular outdoor activities in the world. It's a great way to boost your health and give yourself an intense workout. However, many people overlook the injuries that can come along with the sport they love so much. As you start to cycle more frequently and your fitness increases you may begin to experiences some pain or injury.
According to studies, 42 percent of cyclists have injured their knees, 36 percent hurt their groin and buttocks, 31 percent damage their hands, and 31 percent their back. Health issues caused by cycling can progress over time as a result of repeated movements like pedaling or can arise suddenly with a fall. Both types of injuries should be taken seriously.
Most cycling injuries are caused due to riding at a high speed, with soft tissue injuries and musculoskeletal trauma being the most common. While you may not be able to avoid all injuries, you can still take preventative measures to minimize damage.
We check out 5 common injuries and how you can prevent them.
Knee pain
This is one of the most overuse injuries in the sport.
The knee (the cap of which is called the patella) is a joint between the upper and lower leg – and it gets out of joint when something’s not moving right, pulling it in the wrong direction. Treating knee pain often involves rest, massage, foam rolling and the use of ice or anti-inflammatories in the first instance. Then you need to get to the bottom of the cause.
Knee pain very often stems from a bike fit problem. If this is the case – there are easy things to look out for.
Pain at the front of the knee – called posterior knee pain – often comes from a saddle that is too low and thus places undue pressure on the patella.
Pain behind the knee – anterior knee pain – commonly arises when a saddle is too high, stretching the hamstring attachments.
Lateral and medial pains present at the side of the knee and can be caused by incorrect cleat set up causing the knee to track incorrectly.
Another common cause is a tight IT band – the fibrous tissue that runs down the outer thigh. This can pull on the patella, causing incorrect tracking and is very effectively resolved using massage and foam rolling. In the short term, kinesio tape can also be effective in forcing a correction in tracking, but it is very much an example of addressing the symptom and not the cause – the IT band still needs to be loosened off.
If you're already noticing pain in your knees, do not ignore it. This is an injury that should be treated promptly.
Lower Back Pain
Hours spent curled over the handlebars mean that one of the most common injuries cyclist suffer with is lower back pain. Add in that many of us have jobs that require more sitting and bending over computer screens and the problem reaches new levels of epidemic.
Back pain doesn’t just stop there – often upset lower back muscles will lead to changes in posture which can impact other areas.
In particular, the piriformis muscle which starts at the lower back and connects to the upper surface of the thighbone. Irritation here may present as hip pain, or pain anywhere lower in the leg as the sciatic nerve which runs from the lower back to your toes can become upset when the piriformis is tight.
If you suffer from lower back pain, take some time to rest, stretch your back and hips and try using a foam roller. If the problem persists, see a professional who can calm the symptoms.
Then look to make some changes to prevent a re occurrence. Key things to look at are:
Position on the bike: if your position is very aggressive with a long stem/top tube and low handlebars, think about raising them to alleviate pressure
Position off the bike: if you work at a desk, think about your posture. Investing in a Mckenzie pillow (round pillow that sits at your lower back and helps maintain good posture) is a good idea and you should also check your set-up isn’t encouraging awkward twisting and that your chair is comfortable
Core strength: if your core muscles are not strong enough, your lower back will collapse on the bike, causing undue strain. Working on your core strength will also make you a more powerful rider, as your legs will push the pedals from a stronger base – so it’s wins all round
Impact Injuries
Crashes are an unfortunate side effect of cycling. The obvious advice is to seek medical attention if you’ve crashed heavily. Even if no bones are broken, you may have hit your head. Concussion can require significant rest (such as time away from screens) and is not to be taken lightly. One of the most common breaks for a cyclist is the clavicle (collarbone); and the good news is that this often takes about six weeks to heal but you can still get on the turbo trainer in the mean time.
Muscle strains are less obvious impact injuries. Strained muscles may cause you to over-compensate, resulting in overuse injuries. The temptation is to get back on the bike asap – but sometimes it’s a good idea to take extra rest or even have a check-up with a physio or osteopath before you get back to riding after a crash.
The least serious, but often most annoying, injury caused by a crash is road rash/grazes. As much as it might sting, it’s important to carefully clean grazes as soon as you get home (by clean, we mean scrub, sorry), before using a good antiseptic cream. Keep it clean and dry for the next few days for a good recovery.
When it comes to crash prevention, riding within your limits and taking safe lines can help, but sometimes there’s nothing you can do.
Neck, Wrist and Hand Pain
Pains around the neck and wrists are often caused when too much pressure is being transmitted through the upper body. In an ideal world, about 60 per cent of your body weight is positioned at the rear of the bike, and 40 per cent at the front. If too much goes through the handlebars then your arms and wrists will take a battering. So the first thing to check is that your reach is not too long and that your handlebars are not too low.
Neck pain can also arise if the bars are too low, as the rider is forced to hyperextend to look up in order to see what’s ahead. Wrist pain can occur when your handlebar position is forcing an unnatural angle. Opting for handle bar extensions could be a good option to help alleviate pressure.
Tingling in the fingers can be down to pressure on the Ulnar nerve – which runs between your ring and little finger – this is called Ulnar neuropathy or handlebar palsy. Compression of the median nerve – which causes tingling in the thumb, index, middle and ring finger – is called carpal tunnel syndrome. Cycling mitts and gloves have padded areas to help prevent compression of the nerve – so if you’re struggling, a quality pair of mitts would be a good start. However, this can become an ongoing injury so if numbness continues it’s a good idea to see a doctor.
Saddle Sores
We all make the odd joke about the havoc cycling can play on the undercarriage, but issues can become severe enough to force pro cyclists out of stage races – so mere mortals are forgiven for being ousted from the saddle. It’s not just about the discomfort caused to the actual area, either. If a rider starts to sit lop-sided on the saddle, trying to avoid pressure to the skin, other injuries can arise and these may be harder to treat. Saddle sores vary – but any sore, raised area of skin around the buttocks or undercarriage and caused by contact with the saddle would sit in the category.
Once a saddle sore has arrived, the best thing to do is to keep the area clean (washing with an un-perfumed soap) and dry. If sitting on the saddle hurts, taking a few days off the bike until the angry skin has calmed down is a good idea.
When it comes to prevention it’s all about the saddle and cycling shorts. You need to find a saddle that suits you (see our rounds ups of the best men’s saddles and the best women’s saddles) and make sure it’s set up straight.
Cycling shorts need to fit well, with a chamois that works with your body shape and chamois cream can be used to help reduce friction and kill off any bacteria.
It’s important to change out of cycling shorts quickly after a ride, washing them after every use. Hair removal should be avoided, or kept to ‘trimming’, as ingrown hairs can cause issues.
It important to always be aware of your body. listen to it and get yourself checked out if a problem arises. don't ignore anything that doesn't feel 100%, it will only get worse and then it will begin to impact all the hard work you have done to get this far. Happy Cycling!