Cycling: Preventing Back, Neck and Joint Pain With Chiropractic Care – Dr. Linsay Way

Unfortunately, its no secret that neck and back injuries are two of the most common injuries seen in the world of cycling, but we’re here to help! At Wellness Way Chiropractic we emphasize preventing injury before it happens. Incorporating the following guidelines into your biking can help ensure a healthy and pain-free cycling season.

Bike Fitting
Let’s look at body positioning and bike fit first. Although the back pain and cervical pain experienced by cyclists can have a variety of causes, the most common cause of any biking-related pain is improper cycle fit. A rider contacts the bicycle at three points: the hands, the seat, and the feet. The relative positions of these contacts will determine a rider’s comfort and efficiency.

Prepare Your Body
Of course, when it’s finally time to head out on the road it’s important to increase your distance slowly to appropriately condition your body. Even if you feel like you’re still in good shape after the winter, doing activities you haven’t done for a while can still lead to muscle soreness. This is especially true for long-distance cyclists.

Cycling posture puts constant pressure on the discs, joints, muscles and ligaments in your back. Implementing appropriate stretches both before and during your ride can help neutralize these stressors. It’s important to get muscles warmed up and stretched before the ride, especially the hamstrings and hip flexors.

While riding, “standing up” in combination with alternately leaning forward and arching back can help keep back muscles relaxed. Performing basic cervical range of motion exercises (extension, flexion, and rotation) can help to relax the neck, but make sure to keep your eyes on the road!

Finally, the constant jarring impact caused by uneven roads or trails can have a whiplash-type effect and take a major toll on your body. Cyclists can minimize these micro-injuries by using wide, slightly deflated tires, padded gloves, and a lightweight helmet.

Remember, muscle soreness resulting from overuse usually disappears within two days. If pain persists longer or gets worse, it’s important to visit your chiropractor to rule out injury. Riding doesn’t have to be painful! Following these suggestions can help prevent the cycling injuries we see so often at Wellness Way Chiropractic.

Looking For A Sports Chiropractor In Burlington?
Ready to take your cycling to the next level? At Tread Well Chiropractic, we utilize a low-force, non-invasive, conservative approach to  sports chiropractic  for our patients in Burlington, Oakville, Hamilton & surrounding areas. To make an appointment at Tread Well Chiropractic, call 905-464-7161 or schedule an appointment with our  online scheduling app .

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