When biking causes back pain

At our office in Fremont, we treat many a biker with back pain; for a sport that conditions and strengthens the musculoskeletal and cardiovascular systems, it is quite a frequent contributor to spinal dysfunction. No matter your age, if your bike doesn’t fit properly, or if your posture is less than perfect, your biking habit can actually create the conditions that leave you stiff and sore. We want to help cyclists ensure that their chosen method of exercise is only moving them up in the ranks of wellness; in order to do this, we need to prevent the factors that contribute to back pain in the saddle. 

Why biking causes back pain

Without a doubt, the number one cause of back pain in biking is a poorly-fitting bicycle. Ask any bike shop mechanic and they will tell you that more than a third of people who come in for a tune up are riding a poorly fitted bicycle. Factor number one is bike size: you may not want to go through the trouble of investing in a properly fitting frame, but there are still things you can do, like adjusting saddle and handlebar height, to ensure your bike fits you better. 

A bike that is too small causes you to waste energy while pedaling, and encourages you to hunch forward over the handlebars in a position that is unsupportive for your neck. This encourages poor alignment which, when coupled with bumpy road conditions, can send shocks up to an imbalanced spine. Likewise, a overly large bike will cause you to reach for the handlebars, overstretching the arms and legs. The result of both is poor spinal alignment, lack of mobility in the spinal joints and the precursors of back pain. 

We have no say in the bike you ride

But we can help you overcome spinal pain and dysfunction that results from cycling. At our office in Fremont, we help the cyclists of our community determine and treat muscular imbalances, correct spinal misalignment and improve range of motion in the spinal joints. Apart from preventing pain, this also makes you a more effective cyclist! Give us a call to schedule an appointment today.