Cycling is a wonderful form of exercise. It is a low-impact approach to staying fit, but is not without risk of injuries and pain. When you are riding for any length of time, it is good to be aware of potential injuries.
According to SportsMedicine.about.com, The most common cycling injuries include:
- Knee Pain–Any kind of pain ranging from Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome, which is pain under and around the kneecap, to Osteoarthritis (of the knee), which in athletes is the most common form of arthritis.
- Abrasions and Road Rash–These occur when there has been a fall on a hard or rough surface, causing the top layers of skin to be irritated or rub off.
- Hand Numbness/Ulnar Neuropathy–pain and numbness through fingers because of pressure on the handlebars for extended periods of time
- Muscle Cramps–involuntary sudden tight pain caused by a muscle stuck in a spasm
- Blisters–fluid-filled pockets of skin on surface
According to the same Sports Medicine website, injuries that are not so obvious can progress slowly, get worse, and can creep up on the athlete. They can and turn into chronic pains. But if you are aware of these symptoms, you may be able to heal quicker, and avoid more serious damage or long-term problems.
These are the warning signs and symptoms of sport injuries (from SportsMedicine.about.com):
- Joint Pain
- Tenderness at a Specific Point
- Swelling
- Reduced Range of Motion
- Comparative Weakness
- Numbness and Tingling
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, speak with your physician in order to prevent a more chronic injury.
Proper Bike Fit
Much of the discomfort or pain while riding can occur because of improper riding techniques, or especially poor bike fit. In adjusting your bike to your body properly, you can prevent some common injuries:
- Your Bike Seat: 1. Should be level to support your full body weight, not tilted forward or backward. 2. Should be high enough that your knees are nearly fully extended, but not quite. You want to have a very slight bend at the lowest point. 3. Make sure the bike seat is neither forward nor backward too much, so your knee tracks directly over the pedal axle.
- Your Handlebars: 1. Should not be too high, too low, too close, or too far away. Unfortunately adjusting to the custom fit might be a matter of trial and error. Make sure that you can properly reach all positions and comfortably bend your elbows while riding. Otherwise you may have neck, back, shoulder or hand pain.
Safety on the Road
Safety on bicycles are extremely important, as often riders share the road with much larger and faster vehicles. According to RoSPA, a society for road accident prevention,
- 80% of cycling accidents occur in daylight
- the most dangerous hours for cyclists are 3:00-6:00 pm.
- Around 75% of fatal or serious accidents occur in urban areas
- 75% of fatal or serious accidents happen at or near a road junction. 40% of cyclist injuries include some sort of head injury.
- the most common key contributing factor recorded by the police is ‘failed to look properly’ by either the driver or the rider
How can you Prevent Getting Hurt?
- Wear a helmet
- Be aware of the time of day
- Obey the rules of the road
- Be more aware, and extremely cautious when crossing road junctions
I Have Been in a Cycling Accident. Now What?
You may be entitled to compensation for your accident. Medical bills and injuries in general can be expensive and nightmarishly inconvenient. You might need one of the Utah Bicycle Accident lawyers at Christensen & Hymas. They are experienced in dealing with difficult insurance companies, and protecting the rights of their clients. Call (801) 506-0800 for more information.
Or if you would like to receive a FREE copy of the Utah Bicycle Accident Handbook, to learn about how to protect yourself from the legal pitfalls of a bicycle accident, click here.