Overuse Injuries Correlated to the Mountain Bike`s Adjustment: A Prospective Field Study

Abstract

Abstract:Mountain biking is an Olympic discipline and popular world wide. In comparison to conventional road cycling little is reported of overuse injuries. Especially, the set up of the mountain bike seems to play an important role in the onset of overused body regions. Aim of this investigation is to identify overuse injuries in competitive mountain bikers and correlate them with technical settings of their bikes.This prospective field study consists of two phases analyzing volunteer competitive mountain bikers who were interviewed with a preformed questionnaire. In Phase 1 overused body regions were identified. In Phase 2 riders were examined before and after the race for overused body regions which were correlated to the bike's adjustment. For this reason the athlete was sitting on a fixed mountain bike in riding position and the various distances were individually controlled.169 competitors were analyzed of whom 87 had overuse injuries after the race. Most injuries concerned the lower back, the buttocks and the knee. There was a significant correlation between inadequate saddle-pedal distance and the incidence of knee pain (p<0.038), and paraesthetic sensations in the hand (p<0.023). The saddle inclination increased the incidence of pain in the buttocks (p<0.014)). Symptoms occurred more frequently in downhill (p<0.0001) and uphill (p<0.0007) passages.Overuse injuries are frequently observed in competitive mountain bikers. Certain detailed adjustments have a direct impact on the incidence of overuse injuries in the competitive mountain bike cyclist.

Ergonomic Interventions, Health and Injury Prevention during Off-Road Mountain Biking

“…While the majority of these injuries are acute, traumatic, and isolated to the minority [3], it is expected that many overuse injuries are not reported. This is supported by data showing 51.4% of participants completing an endurance mountain bike race suffered symptoms of overuse, particularly in the lower back, buttocks, knees and wrists [6]. Similarly, participants exposed to 4h of intense mountain biking suffered benign paroxysmal positional vertigo without any prior symptoms [7].…”

Overuse Injuries Associated with Mountain Biking: Is Single-Speed Riding a Predisposing Factor?

“…Literature describing the relationship between mountain bike suspension and overuse conditions is somewhat inconclusive. Though in theory, suspension is proposed to dissipate impact and vibration forces [5,6], previous studies have failed to identify this variable as a statistically pre-disposing factor [3]. Odds ratios in Table 3 suggest that despite the potential for suspension to provide protection against impact, riders with full and front suspension seemed to be at greater risk for developing overuse problems.…”

“…Like road cycling, mountain riders must sustain unnatural or uncomfortable positions and engage in repetitive movements [5,6]. Off-road cycling also involves pedaling over rocks, roots, ledges, drops, and other variable terrain.…”

“…Off-road cycling also involves pedaling over rocks, roots, ledges, drops, and other variable terrain. These added challenges generate unpredictable vibration forces that the bike and/or the rider's body must absorb [5]. This combination of repetitive motion and micro-trauma creates tissue stress which may eventually result in overuse injury syndromes.…”

“…Ninety-percent (90%) of respondents in the study reported experiencing symptoms with the most commonly affected areas being the buttocks, cervical spine, fingers, lumbar spine, knees, and hands. Sabeti-Aschraf and colleagues [5] reported that immediately after a mountain bike race, ~52% (87/167) of riders experienced pain in at least one location with the most frequently affected regions being the lumbar spine, buttocks, and knees. Of methodological note in interpreting these findings is the fact that in these studies overuse conditions were defined as the occurrence of symptoms during one particular episode of riding at a formal mountain biking event.…”