Is it harmful to ride a bike?

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

The sports doctor answers.

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Are there health risks of cycling?

Elmurza Jyrgalbekov

Cycling is considered one of the healthiest sports, but it also has negative sides. Here are the most common ones:

1. Possibility of getting traumatic brain injury is one of the most common injuries for cyclists. Therefore, walking in a helmet is the golden rule, regardless of the level of training, because it can reduce the risk of head injury by about 85%.
2. Joint overload - this can be caused by the execution of cyclical movements while cycling. So, knee pain is one of the common complaints of cyclists. Patellofemoral syndrome (cyclist's knee), patellar tendinitis, mediopatellar fold syndrome, iliotibial tract friction syndrome are some of the more common injuries associated with overuse of the knee. The first four of these are associated with pain around the kneecap, and the latter condition results in pain on the outside of the knee.
3. Pain in the neck - Cyclists who stay in one position for too long suffer especially from it. It is also caused by an incorrectly set cycling position - for example, a too low or high position of the steering wheel or seat.
4. Pudendal neuropathy is a common complaint of male cyclists who bike a lot. This is a form of chronic pelvic pain. It is usually caused by a deterioration in the blood supply to the genital area. But getting the right seat and using bike shorts can help reduce the risk of this problem.
5. Decreased bone density - this may be due to the fact that cycling is associated with no axial load. The pressure on the pedals does not put enough stress on the bones, which is necessary to increase bone density. A decrease in density, in turn, leads to an increase in their fragility and the occurrence of osteoporosis or osteopenia. Most of these changes occur in professional cyclists or in those who do not complement cycling with other activities, such as strength training or running training. So the bike is well suited for those who choose this sport as a means of recovering from injuries. And not quite suitable for people with osteoporosis, for example.
6. Risk of falling or road traffic accidents - an additional negative factor. And it can add up with all of the above negative consequences.

However, despite all the above points, cycling remains one of the most popular outdoor activities, which helps to strengthen the cardiovascular and respiratory systems, increase endurance and prevent the development of chronic diseases.