Cycling And Sciatica

Sciatica is a condition that arises in people who tend to sit for too long. It is a symptom that indicates discomfort in the sciatic nerve that originates in the lower back and extends down to the feet. It is the thickest and the longest running nerve in the human body. Discomfort in this nerve causes severe pain in the back. Well, there are various remedies to overcome back problems like sciatica, cycling is one of them. Many take up cycling as a fitness regime, but you must know that if you are not using the right kind of bicycle or if you sit on it in a wrong posture; you are likely to invite trouble. Now, instead of getting rid of the back pain you will be inviting it. So, while you enjoy riding the bicycle, keeping its health benefits in mind, be careful of the following too.

The first thing you need to do is get the right kind of bicycle. You must pick a bike especially designed for your purpose. For example, if you are a mountain biker, go for mountain bikes only and there are specially designed bikes for racing as well. Also, there are Hybrid bikes available for casual riding. So, pick the one that is apt for you. The right bike means the right size as well. The inside leg length of yours is measured to get the perfect size of the bike for you. And keep note that all types of bicycles have different measurements. You may consult your dealer for the same.

Then is the handle bar of the bicycle. Each bicycle because of its different shape and style has a different handle bar to saddle distance. This distance will determine your posture on the bicycle; it changes the angle of your lower back. More distance would mean a person would be required to lean more forward to ride the bike. This handlebar distance must be lesser for women than men. The height of the handle bar also matters. Lesser height like that in mountain bikes leads to back pain. So, if you are suffering from sciatica and other similar back issues you must rather go for hybrid bikes which have handles at a moderate height. This helps to position the back right and comfortable.

It is seen that in some cases even the seat of the bicycle is the cause of back pain. If the nose of the seat is tipped down a bit, say by 10-15 degrees, it would make it comfortable for the ones suffering from back pain. You must take help from an expert if you are not sure. Also, test-drive your bicycle before you buy it to check the comfort level.

Hence, cyclists can prevent back aches as well as sciatica if they stick to the above mentioned tips before getting on to their respective bikes.

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