Whether you are a professional or recreational cyclist, you may at times experience any of these three common cycling injuries. See how to treat and prevent them.
Muscle cramps, or involuntary contractions of one or more muscles, are a major enemy of cyclists. They cause pain in the area where the muscle is contracted and may spread to nearby areas. To treat and prevent:
- Stop any activity. Relax and lightly stretch the cramping muscle. Hold the stretch for 15-20 seconds.
- Make sure you take in enough water and magnesium on a daily basis.
Foot numbness mainly results from shoes that are too tight or inappropriate saddle positioning. To treat and prevent:
- Choose the shoes that provide enough foot space and don’t get too tight when your feet expand a bit.
- Set the saddle and/or cleat positioning right.
Lower back pain during cycling is usually caused by the saddle that is too high. To treat and prevent:
- Choose a fitting bike and get your positioning right.
