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Back Pain
Medical
Series Handouts:
[ About Medical Depression ] [ Achilles Tendonitis ] [ Asthma Medications ] [ Back Pain ] [ Bicycling First Aid Kit ] [ Collarbone & Shoulder Injuries ] [ Diabetes, Cycling, & Insulin ] [ Exercise-Induced Bronchospasm ] [ Forefoot Problems ] [ Gastrointestinal Problems ] [ Heat & Cycling ] [ Injury in the Tour de France ] [ Muscle Cramps ] [ Obesity ] [ Overuse Injuries ] [ RICE, NSAIDs ] [ Ride or Rest? ] [ Riding Poorly--Is It Medical ] [ Road Rash ] [ Saddle Sores ] [ Sleep for Cyclists ] [ Stretching ] [ Tips to Lose Weight ] [ Traumatic Injuries ]
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Bicycling
Medicine.
Back Pain (Introduction)
Cyclists often experience low backache that makes riding uncomfortable—pain
that forces the rider to slow down or get off the bike.
See a doctor whenever
back pain is associated with loss of sensation or power in your legs.
Causes
Back
Strain
Acute low back pain can
follow strain or overuse. The pain may travel to the buttock or thigh, but if
nerves are not involved, it does not travel below the knee. It is usually due
to:
●
Muscle strain and/or spasm.
●
Arthritis—usually wear-and-tear/degenerative
arthritis, or osteoarthritis. Strain on the vertebral joints from
misalignment, often secondary to disc degeneration, also causes pain.
●
A bulge or herniation of an intervertebral
disc. This is discussed more under Nerve Compression below. | 