Ninth International Conference on Health, Wellness & Society

Abstract

Road cycling and mountain biking on trails have become increasingly popular. Though cyclists, especially mountain bikers, are at risk for traumatic injuries, athletes who participate in these sports are also at significant risk for developing overuse syndromes. Overuse problems associated with cycling are thought to occur due to a combination of repeated, vibratory stresses and the sustained but unnatural positions assumed by participants during long hours of riding over pavement or trail-like surfaces. The most commonly reported conditions afflict low back, neck, or knees and are the result of inefficient patterns of motor recruitment as well as environmental factors within the rider’s control. This review describes the mechanisms by which cycling-associated overuse conditions are proposed to develop and describes how education and a proper training regimen may help cyclists recover from overuse syndromes or prevent their onset altogether.