Most Common Mountain Biking Injuries and How To Avoid Them
Mountain Biking and indeed cycling in general is one of the most popular sports in the world. The reason for this is because there are so many things a bike can be used for, including competitive racing, getting to and from work each day or just as a bit of leisurely enjoyment. 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. Let’s take a look at 3 of the most common complaints and how they can be avoided.
Wrist Injury. When you are traveling over bumps or uneven ground, the force is usually transmitted through the forks and into the wrists. 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.Having quality suspension on the front forks of the bike will reduce a lot of the pressure, or if you cannot have suspension, make sure the forks have shock absorbing qualities like you find on the Trek Madone.
Pain In The Backside. This problem can range from a mild discomfort to full blown muscle inflammation and damage, and is often seen in long distance riders. The long term implications of not addressing such problems can be serious, including infertility and hernia. 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 special cycle clothing such as padded shorts which act to dampen the effect of harmful pressure.
Knee Problems. A large number of cyclists report suffering from inflamed knee joints or damage to the cartilage in the knee. If you lock out your knees when you are cycling this can cause problems, but most often knee problems are a result of the bike. 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.