Bicycling is a popular means of transportation here in the Pacific Northwest. In fact, Washington holds the nation’s top spot for bike friendliest state by the League of American Bicyclists. Biking is also a great form of exercise to get your heart pumping without putting too much strain on your joints. Whether you’re an avid mountain biker, competitive cyclist, or a casual bike commuter, regular chiropractic care is important to prevent biking-related injuries and improve overall performance.

Here are common injuries that we see with riders:

Low back, neck, and shoulders

For our biker patients, we often hear complaints of pain associated with the low back, neck, and shoulders. This is typically the result of poor riding posture that forces unnecessary strain on the body.

Lower extremities

Riders may suffer from numerous lower extremity injuries, including knee pain, pulled or strained calf muscles, shin splints, and stress fractures.  Many of these injuries stem from overuse, poor form, or improperly fitted biking equipment.

Hands and arms

Competitive cyclists commonly experience handlebar palsy, which is numbness or weakness in the ring and little fingers. This occurs because of nerve compression and inflammation of the ulnar nerve, which may lead to pain in their lower arms and the elbows. Carpal tunnel syndrome is another overuse injury that can occur when a cyclist improperly grips the handlebar and applies pressure directly on the median nerve.

The benefits of chiropractic care for bikers:

The good news for riders is that regular chiropractic care can relieve many of these ailments, through properly targeted adjustments and muscle work. Oftentimes, many riders will choose to ignore pain, especially if it only lasts during the duration of the bike ride itself. However, prolonged ignorance of injuries can evolve into serious health risks in the future and become more difficult to treat in the long run.

Getting a properly fitted bike and other riding equipment is the first step to better health and injury prevention. A properly fitted bike will improve your riding posture and allow you to enjoy your ride pain-free. We recommend visit a bike shop or professional to make sure your bike is best suited for your body.

Dr. Scott Petett is an avid mountain biker who understands the challenges and health issues that riders often deal with. He can help design a unique chiropractic program to enhance speed and flexibility, improve range of motion, and adjustments to strengthen balance and improve posture and spinal alignment. We also offer offer massage services and exercise programs to help you improve your overall health and wellbeing. Call us today at (425) 277-2225 to schedule your visit to Renton’s Petett Chiropractic before your next bike ride.