Cycling-Related Lower Back Pain

Is it ok to ride through low back pain or should you stop and seek medical help?
Mechanical low back pain (LBP) is the most most common physical complaint among cyclists.




The exact cause can be difficult to diagnose,and many cyclists,myself included,are given general "soft advice": take things easy,rest,lower your gear ratios,use a higher cadence,etc.However,treatment and pain management-and whether to rest or carry on cycling-should be determined by your GP,Osteopath or physio,based on the specific type of lower back pain you are experiencing.

What's Causing The Pain

Often cyclist presume that their lower back ache is caused by a simple muscle strain,brought on by over- training,or jarring the back.In fact,the problem is usually mechanical.When the spinal muscle-fibres strain,they pull on the wings of a spinal joint called facet joints.There's a pair of facet joints at each of the five lumbar vertebrae-almost like having two spines in parallel.These muscle attachments act like a puppet on a string and can manipulate the facet joints in any direction.

Therefore,if a deep spinal muscle is strained  by a sudden movement or micro-trauma (repetitive movements) then a taut thickened muscle band will develop.This taut band is liable to pull the facet joint out of its correct position and change the alignment of not just the lower five vertebrae but often your pelvis and mid-back too-resulting in pain,inflammation and restricted movement.

What Is The Lumbar Spine?

The lumbar spine is the lower section of your vertebral column.It is comprised of five large vertebral segments.Its primary function is to provide stability,strength and power for movement.Yet its well-engineered structure protects the spinal cord,existing nerves and abdominal contents.Large intervertebral discs act as shock-absorbers and are a very common source of back pain,since they dehydrate (thin) through degeneration or injury (disc bulge or prolapse).

Can I Carry On Cycling?

It's advisable to rest for the first four or five days after the initial onset of LBP and wait for the first inflammatory phase to subside.You should not attempt cycling if the pain is too severe (difficulty turning over in bed or unable to stand up straight); when you experience referred pain down your legs (sciatica) ; or a tingling/numbness in your feet.

 In some cases,back pain can be due to a serious problem or disease,so if severe pain persists,please consult you Gp,Physio or Osteopath.

Self Help Exercise

It's not all bad news: research has shown that cyclists who regularly work on their back flexibility can reduce their risk of experiencing low back pain (LBP).Complete these execises pre/post-ride and 24 hrs after each ride

Read More: Click Here.

Slipped Disc

1. Healthy Disc
2. Nerve
3. Slipped Disc
4. Damaged Disc
5. Spinal Cord

A slipped disc, also called a prolapsed or herniated disc, occurs when one of the discs of the spine is ruptured (splits) and the gel inside leaks out. This causes back pain and can also cause pain in other areas of the body.

The spine 

The spine is made up of 24 individual bones called vertebrae, which are stacked on top of each other. Discs are the protective, circular pads of cartilage (connective tissue) that lie in between the vertebrae. The discs are responsible for cushioning the vertebrae when jumping or running.

The spinal cord is a collection of nerve fibres that are attached to the brain and are protected by the spine. Nerve fibres from the spinal cord pass between the vertebrae as they take and receive messages to and from different parts of the body.

A slipped disc

The discs are made from a tough, fibrous case, which contains a softer, gel-like substance. A slipped disc occurs when the outer part of the disc ruptures (splits), allowing the gel inside to bulge and protrude outwards between the vertebrae.

The damaged disc can put pressure on the whole spinal cord or on a single nerve fibre. This means that a slipped disc can cause pain both in the area of the protruding disc and in any part of the body that is controlled by the nerve that the disc is pressing on.

How common is a slipped disc?

Slipped discs are most common in people between the ages of 30 and 50. The condition affects twice as many men as women.

A slipped disc occurs most frequently in the lower back, but any disc can rupture, including those in the upper back and neck. Around one-third of adults in the UK have lower back pain, and a slipped disc is responsible in less than 1 in 20 cases.

Outlook

It can take around four to six weeks to recover from a slipped disc. In most cases, treatment involves a combination of physical therapy, such as exercise and massage, and medication to relieve the pain.

In severe cases, or if the pain continues for longer than six weeks, surgery may be considered. A number of different procedures can release the compressed nerve and remove part of the disc. The success rate for surgery on the lumber (lower) spine is around 60-90%.