How To Stop Mountain Biking Pains and Strains
September 25th, 2009 | by admin |Mountain Biking and indeed cycling in general is one of the most popular sports in the world. The reason for this is because there are so many things a bike can be used for, including competitive racing, getting to and from work each day or just as a bit of leisurely enjoyment. However, those who are keen cyclists are probably aware that if precautions aren’t taken, there are a number of repetitive-strain injuries that can occur from cycling, especially mountain biking. Here we examine the causes and preventive measures for 3 of the most common cycling-related injuries.
Wrist Strain. When you are traveling over bumps or uneven ground, the force is usually transmitted through the forks and into the wrists. What’s more, as your upper body weight is usually pushing down on your wrists, they can often be put under a lot of strain and become inflamed or injured. A good way to avoid this is have decent suspension on the bike to absorb a lot of the pressure, or alternatively find a bike that is made out of impact absorbing material such as the Trek Madone.
Pain In The Backside. This is one of the most common complaints and is basically a result of repetitive pressure on the gluteus maximus (backside) muscle and surrounding sensitive areas. It is in every rider’s interest to address backside problems as soon as they can quickly become quite serious and even lead to problems with fertility. If you are going to buy a new saddle it is well worth testing it out extensively and giving it a few miles worth of use, as sometimes saddles can start off comfortable, but cause problems after a while. You can also purchase protective cycle clothing such as padded shorts which act to dampen the effect of harmful pressure.
Knee Injury. Another common complaint among riders is knee injuries, inflammation and general soreness. There are bike settings that can aggravate this problem, such as having the saddle too high but generally it is caused by overuse and too much strain on the knees. Try making sure all your bike components have shock-absorbing qualities, such as specialized road shoes which reduce the amount of force transferred through the knee joint.
