Cyclists told these symptoms could lead to them needing surgery

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Cyclists are being warned not to overlook the symptoms of a widespread condition, as it could lead to the need for injections or even surgery. A cycling specialist is emphasising the importance of taking the condition seriously and responding promptly as soon as symptoms appear - or ideally, taking steps to prevent it altogether.

"Enthusiastic cyclists can suffer from weakness in their hands, especially in the ring and little fingers. This is caused by a serious condition often referred to as 'cyclist's palsy,' a nerve compression injury caused by prolonged pressure on the hands and fingers. This can lead to lasting sensory disturbances or motor issues," explains John Vinton from e-bike manufacturer Aventon Bikes.

Medically, cyclist's palsy results from sustained dorsiflexion (upward bending) of the wrist; constant, dynamic, and strong gripping; weight bearing; and extended vibrations. All this can hinder and ultimately damage the ulnar nerves as they pass through the wrist.

Ignoring the symptoms caused by this nerve damage can be tempting, perhaps because you enjoy cycling too much or it's a big part of your life; but you should be aware of the negative and potentially long-term health consequences of disregarding this ailment.

John said: "If you're a regular or hardcore cyclist and you feel numbness in your hands and tingling sensations, or your grip-strength is reduced, take a break from cycling until the symptoms go away. When you resume cycling, take the steps I recommend to prevent cyclists' palsy from returning. If you don't, you risk long-term nerve damage.

"Most people cycle because they enjoy it, or they need it to get around. For these reasons all too many people ignore cyclists' palsy and dismiss it as a mild annoyance. That's exactly what it is until it becomes much more serious, and you need corticosteroid injections or ultimately even surgery.

"Those treatments will (or should) stop you cycling anyway, so why not take a break from the saddle to prevent the need for more serious medical intervention further down the road. If you really love cycling and it's a big part of your life, taking steps to avoid cyclists' palsy early on will enable you to continue doing what you love."

How to Avoid Cyclists’ Palsy

John lists preventative measures and ergonomic tips that cyclists can use to avoid nerve compression in their hands that can lead to cyclists’ palsy:

1. Adjust your bike: Make sure your bike is set up so that your wrists are slightly above the handlebars, and your elbows are slightly bent.
2. Padding : Wear quality padded cycling gloves and/or pad your handlebars to reduce vibration coming up through the bike frame into your hands.
3. Change hand position : Change your hand position on the handlebars frequently as you cycle. You’ll do this naturally, but make sure you do it regularly. Don't ride with your hands fully extended or bent backwards.
4. Weight distribution : Spread your front-leaning upper body weight across as large a portion of your hands on the handlebars as you can.
5. Shock absorbers : If you have a mountain bike with front wheel shock absorbers, make sure they’re high quality shock absorbers, and keep them well maintained to absorb shock efficiently as you ride.
6. Brake levers : Angle brake levers downward to reduce your wrist extension because the wrong wrist extension can lead to nerve pinching in the hands.
7. Stretch : Stretch your neck gently in every direction frequently. You can place your arms behind your back for added stretch.
8. Do exercises : Try regular wrist exercises like making fists while bending your wrist up and down gently as you cycle, and afterwards.

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