A mountain biker will always love to have a great time on trial but extreme sports never come without risks. As mountain bikers, we will run into situations when we will have to face some injuries too due to multiple reasons. There are many precautionary measures that we can take to avoid mountain bike injuries.
As a mountain biker most of the time you will face just minor injuries like bruises and scrapes but unfortunately, sometimes we can face a few common and major injuries too. In this post, we will talk about a few of these injuries along with measures to minimize the risk of these injuries.
Commonly known mountain bike injuries
- Knee and lower back pain
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Dehydration
- Broken collarbone
- Skin abrasions
- Skin scratches
- Acromioclavicular joint sprain
- Saddles sores
- Inflammations
- Hand and wrist injuries
- Shoulder injuries like dislocation
- Contusions and hematomas
- Concussions
- Ligament injuries
Prevention is better than cure
The biker should know that he can face any situation on track whether he is riding alone or in a group. On a few occasions, only one member of the group will face injury while others will get out of the situation safely. Minor bruises and bump injuries will never bother a veteran biker and veteran bikers know this fact that most of the uncommon injuries come due to negligence which we can avoid by taking simple steps.
Ligament injuries of mountain bikers
These are tissues that connect one bone to another. One of the most important ligaments is the ACL which connects our tibia and femur to the knee. Ligament damage is known as a sprain. Minor ligament injuries will heal over time but severe injuries will require surgeries. Increase your skill level to avoid ligament injuries.
How to stay hydrated while mountain biking
The process of hydration starts when you decide that you will be on track. When you don’t drink water before the ride then dehydration starts even before a journey. Always keep your dehydration pack in your backpack as dehydration will destroy your focus and ability to concentrate on track. You can buy a dehydration pack from like given below
Never wait for thirst to drink fluids. Keep taking sips on the ride so the level of water in the body remains constant along the way. Some bikers take energy and sugary drinks but that will increase your sugar and calorie intake.
How you can avoid concussions while mountain biking
The concise answer is always to wear a helmet. Concussions can be a real deal so don’t take risk of not wearing a helmet while riding. After having a concussion you will feel dizzy, memory loss, vomiting, and headache. It makes it hard for you to concentrate further on your journey and you will have to abort it to avoid further damage. Helmets are lifesavers and we need to acknowledge the importance of wearing helmets.
How to avoid saddle sores and chafing
Bum bruises and saddle sores are a pretty common issue faced by mountain bikers. There are certain tips to avoid it
- Use biking shorts
- Use chamois cream
- Change or adjust your saddle
- Take some time off
- Don take it on your head
How to avoid skin abrasions
These are cuts and grazes to a soft and protective layer of skin. Bikers get abrasions when they scratch bodies with branches of trees and rocks. It can be avoided easily by raising skill levels and by wearing proper biking gear. If you will be in proper gear the chances of abrasions are very less.
Knee and lower back pain
Cycling is a repetitive process and will likely put stress on the knee and lower back which can cause injury for a few individuals. If your bike is properly set up then the possibility of injuries will be less. Always consult with your physician if the pain is persistent.
Knee pain in cyclists can be caused by inappropriate height and adjustment of the saddle, hard sprints, wrong positioning of seats, poor pedal placement, and due use of hard gear which is also known as pedal mashing.
Knew pain in cyclists can be due to a syndrome which is known as an iliotibial syndrome. This syndrome is caused by cleats if they keep you in a pigeon-toed position.
Contusions and hematomas in mountain biking
These are fancy names of common bruises. If a sudden force is applied to tissue there will be bleeding underneath your skin. The application of ice on such bruises will reduce the pain.
Fracture injuries after falling from the bike
It is very common to have a fracture after falling from a bike. Avoid biking on slippery tracks if you are not an experienced biker. Stick to the trail that you know very well.
Frostbites in snow biking
If you are fond of biking in the snow then you will have an idea of frostbites. Frost biting can be prevented easily by wearing proper biking gear.
We tried to summarize the causes and treatments of mountain bike injuries concisely and hope you enjoyed our post. Please head over to different categories of bikedestiny.com and explore the world of biking.