WEEKEND WARRIORS

Hitting the bike trails hard without wrecking your body

Apr 17, 2015, 3:00 PM | Updated: 3:29 pm

...

This article is Sponsored by Banner CORE Center for Orthopedics

Distracted driving and poorly marked bike lanes make bicycling a dangerous sport. With more than 200 trails around the Valley, bicyclists are getting off the road and on the trail for two-wheeled fun. But trail riding has its own set of concerns. Whether you’re on the road or on the trail, here are some of the aches and pains of riding a bike.

Broken bones

Tony Nguyen, MD, a fellowship trained orthopedic surgeon specializing in sports medicine and trauma with The CORE Institute, says broken collar bones, sprains and wrist fractures top the list of mountain biking injuries.

Broken collar bones usually result from being thrown from the bicycle and having a direct impact on the shoulder, while wrist fractures often resulting from trying to break a fall.

The best way to prevent these injuries is to monitor your speed so you don’t lose control of the bike and go easy when using the front brake to avoid being ejected off the bike. Another solution is to walk unfamiliar trails first to learn the terrain and how your bike will respond.

Lower back pain

Since the very nature of mountain biking requires hours spent hunched over, the sport can wreak havoc on the lower back.

Strengthening core muscles such as abs, back and hips will reduce the risk of low back injuries.

Additionally, strong core muscles are required for balance needed when navigating rocky terrain.

Iliotibial (IT) band syndrome

The IT band, a band of tissue running from the hip to the shin, is a common source of knee pain sustained in mountain biking. The band crosses and stabilizes the hip and knee joints. Symptoms manifest as swelling and soreness and can usually be treated by icing the area, using anti-inflammatory medication and light stretching.

Concussions

Mountain biking isn’t intended to be a contact sport, but concussions remain a top concern when mountain biking.

Dr. Nguyen explains, “Concussions can be sustained in a crash involving a direct blow to the head as well as a violent collision that does not include striking the head.”

He describes a concussion as an alteration in the way the brain functions with symptoms that include: headache, loss of consciousness, confusion, amnesia, dizziness, photophobia (extreme sensitivity to light), vomiting, slurred speech and fatigue.

Some crashes are inevitable, so it’s important to wear a properly fitted helmet.
If you experience any of these symptoms after a crash our collision, it’s important to seek medical advice.

To schedule an appointment, please call 855-595-8224 or visit our website at BannerCOREcenter.com
to assess your knee and hip pain with our free online assessment.

For more Weekend Warrior tips click here.

About the Featured Doctor:


Tony Nguyen, MD, is a fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon in sports medicine and trauma with The CORE Institute. Dr. Nguyen completed a Sports Medicine fellowship at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas. During this time, he served as team physician for athletic teams across the state of Texas, including the Houston Texans, Rockets, Astros, Dynamos, as well as the collegiate teams at the University of Houston

Weekend Warriors

...

Arizona Sports

Best tips for hiking the Grand Canyon

While some people are happy only visiting the Grand Canyon, Weekend Warriors are likely to take on heavy hiking.

9 years ago

...

Arizona Sports

Women who exercise benefit in many more ways than just the waistline

Routine exercise may also lower the risk of migraines, and it has shown to decrease upper respiratory infections by a third.

9 years ago

...

Arizona Sports

Baseball season brings heightened awareness to long-term risks of shoulder injuries

This article is Sponsored by Banner CORE Center for Orthopedics The Major League Baseball season officially begins on Monday. It’s a sacred time for baseball fans, a time of promise and anticipation of things to come. Baseball legend Yogi Berra once said, “You look forward to Opening Day like a birthday party when you’re a […]

9 years ago

Arizona Sports

Ankle sprains are painful when you’re trying to stay active

Fancy passes and flashy assists. The fast-paced, lateral movement of basketball makes the sport notorious for ankle injuries.

9 years ago

...

Arizona Sports

Starting tennis season on the right foot

Every true grass court enthusiast knows the 104th Davis Cup -- The World Cup of Tennis -- is upon us.

9 years ago

...

Arizona Sports

When a pickup game of basketball leads to foot pain

March basketball tournaments inspire Weekend Warriors to step up their hoop game.

9 years ago

Hitting the bike trails hard without wrecking your body