Friday, June 6, 2014

The Bad Back from Biking

If you have friends who maintain an active sporting lifestyle, chances are high that some of them will be biking around the community or participating in professional races. While riding a bicycle is a good form of exercise, the long periods of being hunched forward for the handlebar like Tour de France riders tests your lower back to the limits. You must find ways to ease the pain lest falling off the saddle triggers some serious consequences.

Some chiropractors contend that bending over at the waist, or the flexion, tightens the front parts of the spine while its back sections, along with the associated ligaments, are pulled to great stresses. The psoas muscles– which link the lower spine, lesser pelvis, and the femur– contract into shorter forms with prolonged cycling. When this happens, every stroke on the pedal can be painful because the muscles no longer stretch like they used to. The upper back will also be affected from the run. For instance, the neck arching back can be stressed from bending over to lessen drag.
A chiropractor may help through an adjustment program which will include periodic changes to your posture and shifting weight to the arms. A cycling shop specialist will add to the treatment by furnishing you a mountain bike with better seat rests and shock absorbers.

Remember: back problems can strike hard in the middle of a run. That’s why managing the pain will be critical.  

No comments:

Post a Comment