Comfort, Injury Management and Performance
Lower Back Pain in the Recreational Cyclist – a common presentation
54 year old recreational cyclist rides 100km/wk for 5 years
1 year history of right lower back and front of hip pain
HISTORY
Worse after 1 hour of riding especially when riding hard, power, faster rides. Lower back becomes sore then loss of power right side/tight hip
Stopping riding, stretch, roll, hands-on treatment helps short term
Treatment and personal training including squats for 1 year
Bike is 3 years old. Specialised Bikefit 3 yrs ago – client has “fiddled a little” with set-up
BODY
Slightly decreased R hip range of movement
Lower back, pelvis and hip combined function very poor on 1 leg R > L
Evidence of overload/overusing of the front of hip muscles/quadriceps
BODY on BIKE
See excessive lower back flexion (forward bend) in photo
BIKE
Seat too far back 10.5cm behind bottom bracket
Seat height slightly low (video knee angle measure + static calculation)
PRE: lower back flexed, increased hip angle at top of pedal stroke due to aggressive position.
POST: testing of seat up/forward with bars raised (using pads/towels) gives open hip position, less stress to lower back = less pain and better performance for longer. As body improves the bars can be lowered
Summary – Seat too far back and low with bars too aggressive for this body at this point in time. Lower back flexed is a risk factor for back pain and flexed posture overall challenges the back and hip region which leads to the wrong muscles working to produce power. Optimise bike and fix body
