Low Back Pain and Joint Position Changes in Cyclists: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Introduction: Low back pain is one of the most common complaints among cyclists. The disharmony of the cyclist-bike combination may be a predisposing factor. Bike Fit is a technique that aims to adjust the bike to the individual characteristics of the cyclist. Objectives: To investigate the relationship between the cyclist’s position on the bicycle and the occurrence of complaints of low back pain. Methods: Data obtained during Bike Fit from 62 amateur cyclists were used in the study. Cyclists were filmed during the act of pedaling on a stationary roller and image analysis was performed using Kinovea® software. Data related to complaints of low back pain and positioning on the bicycle were used in the Chi-Square test and binary logistic regression. Results: The mean age was 38.06 ± 8.82 years, 87.7% of the sample was composed of men and low back pain was found in 40.3% (25/62) of the participants. Univariate analysis showed a positive correlation between low back pain and the following variables: ankle dorsiflexion angle (X2=6.947, p=0.014) and upper limb reach (X2=5.247; p=0.032). Binary logistic regression showed a positive association between reaching with the upper limbs and low back pain (r=2.728; p=0.002) and a negative association between knee advancement and low back pain (r= -2.281; p=0.007). Conclusion: Cyclists with low back pain present changes in their position on the bicycle, which reinforces the importance of evaluating the cyclist/bike combination. However, it is not possible to state whether the positional changes observed in the study sample are causes or consequences of low back pain. Level of evidence: Level III; Cross-sectional observational study.