Common Cycling Injuries
Bicycling is a great, low-impact sport, but it isn’t without risk of injury. Most cycling injuries occur due to poor bike fit or improper riding technique. It’s important to have the bike adjusted to one’s body because proper bike fit can prevent pain and injury.
Knee pain: Knee pain is extremely common in cyclists. In order to treat the cause of the pain, it is important to have an evaluation and proper diagnosis.
Common reasons for knee pain in athletes include the following.
Chondromalacia - This term refers to softening and deterioration of the underside of the kneecap. In young athletes this is typically an injury from trauma, overuse, poor alignment of the knee joint, or muscle imbalance. This leads to friction and results in damage to the surface of the cartilage because of rubbing under the kneecap. The sensation is a dull pain around or under the kneecap that worsens when walking down stairs or hills, climbing stair other weight bearing activity.
Osteoarthritis of the Knee - Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis in athletes. It is a degenerative disease that results in a gradual wearing away of joint cartilage. Typical symptoms of osteoarthritis are pain, swelling, and a decrease in the range of motion of the knee. Morning stiffness that decreases with motion is also common.
Iliotibial Band Syndrome - IT band friction syndrome often results in knee pain that is generally felt on the outside (lateral) aspect of the knee or lower.
Head Injury
One of the most serious of all bike injuries is a head injury. Wearing a bike helmet is recommended to reduce the risk of a serious head injury while biking. It is also important to recognize and treat the early warning signs of an injury. A concussion is typically caused by a severe head trauma where the brain moves violently within the skull so that brain cells all fire at once, much like a seizure.
Foot Injuries
Cyclists are also prone to injuries in the foot region.
Achilles Tendonitis – It is a chronic injury that occurs primarily from overuse. Achilles tendonitis is a painful condition of the tendon in the back of the ankle.
Plantar Fasciitis - Plantar fasciitis is the most common cause of pain on the bottom of the heel and usually defined by pain during the first steps of the morning. Pain often subsides quite quickly, but then returns after prolonged standing or walking.
Arch Pain - Arch pain is a common foot complaint. Arch pain causes inflammation and a burning sensation under the arch of the foot. Treatment of arch pain often consists of adaptive footwear and inserts.
Blisters - Blisters are fluid-filled sacks on the surface of the skin that commonly occurs on the hands, or the feet.
Other Cycling Injuries
Fracture is also a common form of injury of the cyclists. A shoulder fracture refers to a total or partial break to either the collar bone or the neck of the humerus (arm bone). It generally is from an impact injury, such as a fall or blow to the shoulder.
Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness is a muscle pain, stiffness, or soreness that occurs 24-48 hours after particularly intense exercise.
Hand Numbness is experienced as pain and numbness of the small and ring finger and is associated with pressure on the handlebars for long periods of time.
Abrasions and road rash injuries result from a fall on a hard surface that causes outer layers of skin to rub off.
Sources: About.com