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The Wicklow 200 is run by theIVCA.
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Where
do cyclists get injured? - By
Karen Doyle |
Between now and the Wicklow 200 I will give tips on stretching and
strengthening to help prevent injury during your cycle training. To
kick off I’ll take a look at main areas where cyclists get injured
and the frequency of injury in these areas.
There are only a handful of studies out there that look at the frequency
of cycling injuries, most information is anecdotal, based on the types
of injuries that present in physical therapy clinics or at training
camps, or which cyclists report themselves. In the US cycling injuries
account for over 500,000 visits to A&E departments, over half
of these related to incidents with cars, and with road surfaces and
mechanicals also common causes of accidents. However my focus will
be on injuries you can prevent rather than those of a traumatic kind.
In the US, three different studies looked at male and female recreational
cyclists and noted the most common areas for pain. One study found
that that 85% of participants had one or more over use injuries. All
three studies found that the most common areas for complaint were
the neck, knees, groin/buttocks, hands, and back.
In Manchester an interesting study was carried out on elite cyclists
where they screened athlete over a period of 5 years for injury or
medical problems. In contrast with the recreational cyclists, low
back pain featured as the most common complaint, and then the knee,
and upper back. The frequency of injuries in various areas is shown
in the figure below.
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Figure 1: Areas of cycling injury and their
frequency
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| The British study also looked at the breakdown of the back and knee
injuries by cycling discipline; mountain bike, road, track, a combination
(cyclists who did more than one discipline), and all (where the cyclist
participated in all disciplines). Track and road cycling account for
60-70% for these injuries. See the diagrams below. |
Figure 2: Source of knee injuries |
Figure 3: Source of low back injuries |
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| You may have identified yourself as one of the 85% of cyclists with
an over use injury. When looking for the root cause, don’t forget
to look also at your non cycling activities – are you seated
at a desk all day, do you do manual heavy lifting work, do you drive
for work? The various positions and postures we adopt through out
the day can be a contributor to the pain felt after a few hours in
the same position on the bike. This will be explored more when I discuss
strategies to prevent injuries in the susceptible areas over the coming
months. |
References:
· Callaghan M, Jarvis C 1996. Evaluation of elite British
cyclists: the role of the squad medical. British Journal of Sports
Medicine 30, 349-353
· Dannenberg AL, Needle S, Mullady D, Kolodner KB 1996. Predictors
of injury among 1638 riders in a recreational long-distance bicycle
tour: Cycle across Maryland. American Journal of Sports Medicine
24, 747-53
· Mellion MB 1991. Common cycling injuries. Management and
prevention. Sports Medicine 11, 52-70
· Wilber CA, Holland GJ, Madison RE, Loy SF 1995. An epidemiological
analysis of overuse injuries among recreational cyclists. International
Journal of Sports Medicine
16, 201-6.
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About the Author:
Karen is a Physical Therapist and member of the Irish Association
of Physical Therapists based in Booterstown, Co Dublin. She worked
on the Rás in 2008 with the Dundrum Orwell team, and in 2009
with the Irish National Team. She regularly works with the National
Senior and Junior Track teams at training camps and competitions.
If you have any questions regarding the article, suggestions for further
articles or have any other queries she can be contacted at info@mapleclinic.ie
or www.mapleclinic.ie
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Unit 102 Coolmine Ind. Est.
Dublin 15
Tel: 01 820 1921
Fax: 01 820 9645
Lo Call: 1850 511 660
www.usherinsulations.com
sales@usherinsulations.com
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