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Mountain Biking Injuries – How To Steer Clear of Them
Mountain Biking and indeed cycling in general is one of the most popular sports in the world. Part of its appeal comes from the fact that cycling can be done for fun, exercise, sport, or in a functional capacity such as commuting to work. However, those who are keen cyclists are probably aware that if precautions aren’t taken, there are a number of repetitive-strain injuries that can occur from cycling, especially mountain biking. Here we examine the causes and preventive measures for 3 of the most common cycling-related injuries.
Wrist Problems. The large and aggressive forces that are generated when riding over large bumps on uneven terrain often find their way to the cyclist’s writs by traveling directly up the bike forks. What’s more, as your upper body weight is usually pushing down on your wrists, they can often be put under a lot of strain and become inflamed or injured. A good way to avoid this is have decent suspension on the bike to absorb a lot of the pressure, or alternatively find a bike that is made out of impact absorbing material such as the Specialized 2D.
Pain In The Backside. You would be amazed at just how many riders report suffering from this complaint, which is usually caused by long durations of pressure and poor padding. It is in every rider’s interest to address backside problems as soon as they can quickly become quite serious and even lead to problems with fertility. If you are going to buy a new saddle it is well worth testing it out extensively and giving it a few miles worth of use, as sometimes saddles can start off comfortable, but cause problems after a while. You can also purchase specialised cycle clothing such as padded shorts which act to dampen the effect of harmful pressure and an LED Desk Lamp.
Knee Problems. Another issue faced by lots of riders is pain in the knees, which they often experience after a long cycle. Your riding position and bike set up does influence the amount of strain on the knees, but more often than not the quality of the bike contributes quite a lot. Try making sure all your bike components have shock-absorbing qualities, such as specialized road shoes which reduce the amount of force transferred through the knee joint.