Sulit Spin Studio

Back pain ? I got you YOU ! 🙌

From time to time, athletes can suffer from intermittent back pain / sciatica. Here’s some tips to help you while you are in the saddle !

First off …. Stretch, stretch, and stretch some more! It really is a cornerstone of therapy (along with accompanied care prescribed per your physician) 

When cycling, a forward lean causes a pelvic tilt that can contribute to sciatica. Therefore, I advise raising your handlebars up as high as they can go. This will unload some saddle pressure

Saddle height is also very important. Make sure that your saddle is not too high to where you are rocking back-and-forth when you ride. Or too low to where your hips drop down when you pedal - this creates overreaching . Both will aggravate your back

Body positioning also is important - sitting towards the front portion of the saddle causes a “hunched back” and forces you to hinge at the rib cage which is not good . Sitting towards the rear of the seat forces you to hinge your body at the hips – this helps keep your back in the right position.

Lastly , high torque, esp when seating , causes a “heel down” motion that aggravates the nerve

Proper bike set up with body mechanics can go a long way . Stretching and core strength are also important !

But, as always , consult with your doctor about your concerns to make sure it is safe for you to continue to ride. Consult with me to make sure your bike is set up properly !