Strange pain from spinning

[Catrin]

Two weeks ago we got a few new bikes for our spinning classes. These are smaller bikes than the others, and suit me better. Last night, however, there was some strange muscular pain during class. I am trying to figure out what caused it.

The pain was primarily when seated - and the area is difficult to describe. It was in the area of my right inner thigh up where the leg/hip/groin all connect. It was rather deep and was a steady dull pain rather than a cramp. It stopped a few seconds during a standing run or climb - anything that took me out of the seat.

The seats on these new bikes are pear-shaped, but smaller than on the other bikes. I felt like I was constantly fighting to keep from sliding forward, but the seat appeared to be adjusted properly. Any thoughts about what might have caused this? This was totally different than anything I've felt on bike or spinner before. Today I meet with my trainer and I think that I will just measure the seat to see how small it actually is.

[artifactos]

When it comes to your sliding forward, that is probably a problem with the saddle angle (i.e. the nose slopes downward) - I have that issue with the bike I regularly use in spin class, since its saddle needs to be tightened to stop the nose from slipping downward.

As far as the pain.. I'm not really sure, but I have issues with my right hip and get pain in a similar location as well. In my case, it is definitely not muscular - it's either a tendon or a ligament being a bit too tight or loose (my PT never defined which one, or at least I can't remember) and my hip joint will get out of place and need to be "popped" back in. I experience the same pain quite a bit when cycling or when my hip is in a certain position, and I alleviate it by standing and opening/closing my hip angle a bit to "pop" it back to where it should be, alleviating the pain. It can become absolutely excruciating if I cannot adjust my hip angle.

[kjay]

I get that same pain but I know that my problem is worn-down cartilage in my hip, meaning I'll need a hip replacement at some point. But, ladies, I am in my 60s, so I am close to positive that is NOT your problem. At first I thought it was muscles or a tendon, but an MRI proved me wrong. :-(

[nscrbug]

Sounds like it could be a groin strain, based on the location you described. I'm not a doctor...but I have a friend who is experiencing this EXACT problem in the same inner thigh/groin area...and she too, has said that spinning aggravates it. Maybe try googling "inner thigh/groin pain" to see what treatment options are suggested.

[Catrin]

I will check into this, thanks. I am hoping it was just due to the seat on the spinning bike being pointed a little low and the muscles were just complaining about having to keep me from sliding off...so the test will come Monday evening at class.

This was not a sharp pain, rather a dull pain that was alleviated when I got up out of the seat. No repeat today on my bike, so hopefully this isn't from a pulled muscle...

[ohsuzie]

I too experienced the same exact pain in my left inner thigh/groin area and also after new spin bikes were purchased. Catrin, how long did your pain last? I am supposed to go mountain biking tomorrow. I went for an hour ride on my cruiser today to test the pain it seemed better but not sure how I will fare on tomorrow's ride. Guess I'll be bringing a gel seat cover to class from now on tho'. :(

[Catrin]

I am still experiencing it - and yesterday it was worse. So I am giving up on the new bikes and going back to the old. It isn't, quite, in the groin but more like the upper/inner thigh very close to the place where everything meets. A doctor in the class said that it is in a place where there is often referred pain from the hip and is likely a bike fit issue.

Thursday when it started I switched to an older bike, but apparently it was too late. Monday I won't even look at the new spinning bikes (which are, officially, Spinners!) The older, larger bikes are a different brand, can't think of the name.

This happens no other place, including my own bike. Standing relieves the pain, and it takes about 40 minutes or so for the pain to start. As part of my training I get extra spin time in, starting about 40 minutes prior to class.

KnottedYet - if you see this - does this sound like a fit issue? This started prior to my clipless gymnastics last weekend so I know it isn't related to some odd injury from that - it is on the same side that I kept falling on :p This is a dull pain, not sharp, but yesterday was not fun!

ohsuzie, my pain ends as soon as class is over - or when I stand up on the bike - but I also have bike shorts on. I have no pain between classes or on Stella, my Trek.

[Catrin]

The problem is solved! My instructor and I met before class last night and, basically, took time to micro-adjust one of the spinning bikes for me (not one of the new ones). Voila, no hip/groin,thigh pain at all and am VERY happy about that. I was starting to be concerned that my clipless gymnastics a week ago had perhaps damaged something as this was on the same side that kept hitting the ground rather hard (I know better than to catch myself with my hand).

[Dogmama]

Glad your problem is solved. I see many new people come into my spin class & TRY wave me off when I want to help them set up their bikes. Tough - they're in my class & they're getting my help. 99% of the time, their seats are too high and too far forward.

Here are three stretches that I recommend on a VERY regular basis:

Inner thigh stretch: Sit on the ground & put your feet together. Your legs should form a diamond. Torso tall, lean forward.

Hip flexor stretch: Assume a very long lunge position. Keeping your front knee behind your ankle, sink down so that your back knee rests on the floor. Tip: a cushion for your knee and something to hold onto is a good thing here.

Glute stretch. Have something to hold onto, like the handlebars of a spin bike. Place one foot over your knee and sit back. Careful not to pull your bike over on you - keep your weight over your hips. For more stretch, point your stretching leg's knee downward.

Hope that helps.

[Catrin]

Glad your problem is solved. I see many new people come into my spin class & TRY wave me off when I want to help them set up their bikes. Tough - they're in my class & they're getting my help. 99% of the time, their seats are too high and too far forward.

Here are three stretches that I recommend on a VERY regular basis:

Inner thigh stretch: Sit on the ground & put your feet together. Your legs should form a diamond. Torso tall, lean forward.

Hip flexor stretch: Assume a very long lunge position. Keeping your front knee behind your ankle, sink down so that your back knee rests on the floor. Tip: a cushion for your knee and something to hold onto is a good thing here.

Glute stretch. Have something to hold onto, like the handlebars of a spin bike. Place one foot over your knee and sit back. Careful not to pull your bike over on you - keep your weight over your hips. For more stretch, point your stretching leg's knee downward.

Hope that helps.

These sound like some of the stretching exercises we do as well. The best we could figure is that the smaller Spinner bikes brought out a problem related to my leg length - one leg is slightly longer than the other. The seat was high enough, but for whatever reason I probably wasn't getting a full range of motion and my hip was complaining. I've been taking 3-4 classes a week since the end of September, and this was the first real problem so it has to be it.

Things have been fine now for two classes, so that must have been it...whew. Now that riding weather is here I am dropping half of my spinning classes so I can play on my real bike :) I am keeping two of the four classes I've been attending.

[OakLeaf]

99% of the time, their seats are too high and too far forward.

hmmmmmm...

Speaking as someone who doesn't ride spin bikes unless I really need cardio and can't find another alternative - and who always sets my seat "too high" when leg extension is the only test -

it's because of those 175 mm crankarms. The saddle is actually both "too high" when you look at my leg extension at the bottom of the pedal stroke, and "too low" when you look at my knee flexion at the top.

Speaking only for my own knees and not for anyone else's, with those 175s, it's a lot safer for me to set my saddle where I can barely reach the pedals with my toes at the bottom, than to set it where my knees are in excessive flexion at the top.

I wonder if the manufacturers ever think about this - especially considering that most people in spinning classes are women. It might even be worth contacting the manufacturers, as something they could take into account in a future redesign.