Sciatica and Cycling
Filed Under Back Pain Relief, Sciatica & Cycling | Leave a Comment
I happen to be a keen cyclist and tall, so if I’m not careful, the head down/bum up riding position can aggravate my back if I’m cycling for long periods.
(Not as much as sitting hunched over a notebook PC, which has to be the absolute worst for my neck/shoulders and lower back, but that’s another story!)
That’s one of the reasons I ride a hybrid bike, rather than a traditional road bike with drop handlebars.
The other reasons are IMHO hybrids are more fun and great for just hopping on and going to the beach or the shops. Buy a decent hybrid and you can keep up fine with other cyclists, except with the real hard core weekend road warriors.
Actually I think its great fun slotting into a peloton sitting bolt upright, whilst everybody else is grinding their nose on their front tire, but that’s just me I guess!
Anyway, the point with cycling and any other exercise in relation to your back is vary your routine and listen to what your back is telling you.
When I was younger and believed I was indestructible, I didn’t take that much notice of the pain and discomfort from physical overexertion.
Now old age and a couple of really scary bouts of sciatica have taught me to listen and be kind(er) to my body. I’ve also learnt to judge that sometimes fine line between ’stretching my performance envelope’ and buggering myself up!
So mix up cycling with say swimming and walking and plenty of stretching (as always yoga is highly recommended). If your (lower) back starts to hurt whilst cycling, then stop and do something else for a while.
Anyway, I came across an article about cycling sciatica and back pain that I thought was useful. You can find it here http://www.cyclingnews.com/fitness/?id=2007/letters05-01#8
Enjoy.
