Love a Long Bike Ride? Tips to Help Your Back Make It
By Virginia Laird
Are you one of the millions of people who love a good bike ride? Even if you love it, you may at times experience back pain to accompany the ride. There are ways to help prevent the pain. Knowing what you can change or how to prevent the pain before it begins is a powerful tool. Routine visits to your chiropractor can help prepare the body for the strain of a bike ride or any other workout. While there, your chiropractor can help identify other factors that could be the culprit of a painful ride and help find some solutions to the issues. A few things suggested you try to help prevent pain include:
- Adjust your bike correctly
- Stop for breaks along the way
- Stretch before your journey
Adjust Your Bike Correctly
Chiropractors will agree that one of the most common mistakes in bike riding is going with a bike that is not properly fitted to you. Bikes are not one size fits all. Everyone should make certain the bike is adjusted to fit according to his or her own body size. This can help prevent pain. When adjusting the bike there are several things to consider, including the seat and the handlebars. It is suggested that you take the time to adjust these items so that you are sitting comfortably (without hunching) on your bike. Chiropractors insist that taking the time to make these adjustments can be the difference in a pain-free bike ride.
Stop For Breaks Along the Way
For many, the idea of jumping on a bike for a long ride can be painful. Chiropractors suggest that taking breaks along your way can help prevent back pain. It is suggested that you stop every half hour to get off of your bike, hydrate, and lightly stretch out your back and neck. Give this a try the next time you set out on a bike ride.
Stretch Before Your Journey
Chiropractors encourage those who love to bike to stretch before heading off on the trail. Research suggests it is best to stretch your legs, back, and neck to help release any tension which may exist prior to your ride. Chiropractors also tell patients that stretching after their ride is equally vital when trying to prevent back pain. There is no need to make the stretching lengthy; simple stretches can be enough to help make a pain-free ride possible.
If you are one who struggles with back pain, no matter what tips you try, a trip to your chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic can be helpful. With more than 450 locations nationwide you are sure to find one nearby. And with no appointment necessary, getting started on your personalized pain prevention plan can be as simple as dropping by at your earliest convenience.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Duluth, Ga.