Cycling Injuries

Competitive Cycling places a large demand on cardiovascular conditioning, leg strength, and overall body endurance. In addition, due to the repetitive nature of cycling, the joints of the lower body are placed under a constant work load.

Cycling requires the upper body to be in essentially a constant position for an extended period of time. This, in turn, places a consistent stress on the back, shoulders, elbows, and wrists.

Typical injuries associated with forcing a portion of the body to be in a constant position for several consecutive hours include muscular strains, cramps, and numbness.

The physical stresses that are placed on the lower body muscle groups and joints are related to the fact that cycling involves performing the same movement over and over in a repetitive fashion and with varied levels of intensity.

While the stress that is placed on the joints of the lower body, hips, knees, and ankles tend to be more constant and continual, the fact that the movement is performed at such a high frequency places a constant stress on both the soft tissue and the joint. In addition, accidents occur as well. Hence, abrasions, cuts, and even broken bones are possible as well.

Below are the most common injuries that occur within the sport of cycling.

Abrasions and Road Rash

Abrasions and Road Rash refers to skin and bone injuries caused by a collision with road surfaces, both pavement and gravel.

Achilles Tendonitis

Achilles Tendonitis typically occurs when a repetitive stress is placed on the tendon and gradually causes the tendon to become inflamed.

Arch Pain

Arch Pain is used to describe the symptoms associated with inflammation of the tissues under and within the middle of the foot.

Athlete's Foot

Athlete's Foot is a fungus growth that can occur on the feet and rapidly spread when the feet are exposed to a moist warm environment.

Backaches and Stress

Backaches may often occur from excess stress originating from the spine, muscles or nerves of the back region. Backaches due to stress may be a precursor to chronic lower back pain, and should therefore be taken seriously.

Back Sprains and Strains

Back Sprains and Strains are extremely common and can in range in severity from a dull pain to a highly acute sharp pain.

Blisters

Blisters are typically caused by friction between the skin and a surface and produces a fluid filled sacs on the surface of the skin.

Cartilage Injuries and Knee Disorders

Cartilage Injuries are related to damage and/or loss of cartilage that cause debilitating pain, stiffness and swelling of the knee area.

Chondromalacia

Chondromalacia is damage to the cartilage located under the kneecap and if left untreated can lead to severe degeneration.

Clavicle Fracture

Clavicle Fracture injuries are the most common broken bone in the human body and account for about 5% of all fractures that occur.

Concussion

Concussions are due to head trauma in which the brain moves within the skull causing the brain cells all fire at once.

Delayed-Onset Muscle Soreness

Delayed-Onset Muscle Soreness is believed to be due to inflammation caused by muscle damage, however, it is not fully understood.

External Iliac Arteriopathy

External Iliac Arteriopathy is the narrowing or blockage of the external iliac artery due to repetitive exercise, causing weakness and fatigue.

Hand Numbness / Ulnar Neuropathy

Ulnar Neuropathy is a condition where the ulnar nerve becomes compressed causing a tingling in the outer arm to the little finger.

Iliotibial Band Syndrome

Iliotibial Band Syndrome is related to the iliotibial band becoming irritated and inflamed and causing pain throughout the entire knee area.

Knee Pain

Knee Pain is most often associated with the inflamation, tearing, or degeneration of the muscle, ligaments, or cartilage of the knee.

Low Back Pain

Low Back Pain is quite common and can be reduced by maintaining a healthy weight and strong back, oblique, and abdominal muscles.

Meniscus Injuries of the Knee

Meniscus Injuries of the Knee are evident by inflammation and pain assocaited with the outside and/or inside of the knee area.

Muscle Cramps

Muscle Cramps typically occur within the muscles of the lower portion of the body and are involuntary muscle contractions and spasms.

Muscle Sprains and Strains

Muscle Sprains and Strains are injuries associated with the ligament that connects bone to bone (Sprain) or connects muscle to bone (Strain).

Muscle Strains of the Back

Muscle Strains of the Back occur when the muscle fibers of the back are overly stretched and/or torn causing acute pain and soreness.

Neck Strain

Neck Sprain injuries are related to overstretching or tearing the neck muscles or the ligaments that connect to the cervical vertebrae.

Osteoarthritis of the Knee

Osteoarthritis of the Knee is the degeneration of the cartilage within the knee joint that is located between the femur and tibia bones.

Overtraining Syndrome

Overtraining Syndrome occurs in individuals that do not allow their body the necessary time to recover from an aggressive exercise routine.

Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome

Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome is related to the way the patella tracks and moves along the groove of the femur bone.

Piriformis Syndrome

Piriformis Syndrome is defined as the piriformis muscle pressing on the sciatic nerve and is located inside the the pelvis.

Plantar Fasciitis

Plantar Fasciitis is the inflammation of the plantar fascia, a thick fibrous band of tissue located on the bottom surface of the foot.