Identifying Cycling Pain

Many of you are asking me about different pain issues you experience after riding a bike, such as neck pain, back pain, knee pain, hand numbness, etc. It’s hard to suggest something without seeing you and I’m not a doctor. It may be down to an ill-fitting bike, as too often people simply buy an off-the-peg bike and don’t have it properly sized for them. For instance, what width are your handlebars? If you don’t know, then you don’t know if they’re the cause of any shoulder or upper back pain. But here is some common advice that you can follow:
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• Have a bike fit by a professional each year to get your bike set up properly. Don’t skip this because it’s too important for your performance and health. Do this every year, even if you ride the same bike because things change—your range of motion changes, your mass, your strength and flexibility or maybe parts of the bike- stem, handlebar, saddle, pedals, etc.

• Visit a PT physical therapist for a physical assessment to help avoid injuries. The PT will look at your joint motion, posture, muscular balance, any asymmetries, and determine your unique risk for injuries.

• Stretch your back and legs after every ride to ward off aches and pains and prevent injuries.

• Perform strength and mobility exercises based on your physical characteristics.

• Relax your muscle tissue and reduce spasms by having a massage done or use different massage tools, such as foam rollers or a massage gun.