Back pain gets better on bike

I've had some lower back pain lately. Not sure what's up, but I suspect it's because I need to stop hoisting my 53-pound bulldog on and off the bed. He's not the only one getting older. I also need to be more diligent about abdominal and core strengthening.

I've noticed consistently, over a period of weeks, that the pain gets significantly better (even disappears) when I go for a nice, long bike ride. It's a hybrid bike, so I'm leaning only slightly forward. I don't know if position on the bike is the key, or perhaps it's just relaxation.

Wouldn't it be nice if all of our ailments could be fixed by a bike ride?

Pam

That's great, Pam. I also have had a similar experience with biking. I have some major lower back issues (not because I lift a 53 pound dog :eek:). My chiropractor recommended that I stop running and start cycling. The flexion (being bent over) has definitely helped my lower back and I even managed to run 1.5 miles the other night without pain. First "run" since September!

And I definitely agree that core exercises will help you. Keep on cycling!

I had horrible lower back/hip pain for months. The only time I was pain-free was when I was riding my bike. The things that helped me tremendously are a good chiropractor, ergonomic seating at my office (yeah, I had to threaten a worker's comp claim, but they came through), working through some very tough emotional/relationship/life stuff, and Pilates.

The only time I have inklings of back pain now are when I get slack with the Pilates. I no longer see the chiropractor and I work from home and cannot afford a $1000 chair so I make do with what I have. I am still working on the emotional/life stuff, but I'm in a much better situation that I was before.

I'd start the Pilates right away. It's a whole lot easier than the other stuff (okay, the chair is easy, especially if you don't have to pay for it!)

I've noticed the same thing - I experience lower back pain for periods of time, but it almost always improves or completely disappears when I (mountain) bike. I believe the endorphins probably play a big factor, along with the riding position. Yet another good reason to keep riding . . .

My lower back has been hurting all week but it doesn't hurt when I ride.

We have a family history of back problems. My dad had two back surgeries but it always made his back feel better to ride his horse.

Wow - I've been practically rigid with lower back pain all last week. I have arthritis, bone spurs, narrowing, the whole thing and the spasms have been horrible. I finally got on my bike yesterday and - amazing - the pain subsided a lot and I felt fantastic all day! Even sat through a movie (The Hangover - crude but funny.)

I'm still seeing my "spine doc" this week. Now I'm getting sharp pains in my foot. I'm going to lobby hard for physical therapy - with that cute little guy who did physical therapy on my neck....MEEEOOOWWW!!!

I think that riding a bike helps stretches out the back and hamstrings.. often causing back pain...

good thin though that it's not the opposite!

Very interesting to find out I'm not the only one. I'm sitting here now achy and stiff because I didn't bike today. Yes, it is good to have a malady that responds to pleasant activities.

I am going to look into Pilates and perhaps a chiropractor if this doesn't better. I am trying to force myself to sleep on my back because I've read that sleeping on your stomach is bad for lower back pain. I don't have much self-control after I fall asleep, though.

I'm also wondering about my psoas muscle -- there have been some posts here about that.

Pam

Cycling also provided relief for me... fortunately or unfortunately-- I haven't decided which-- I just recently had back surgery which didn't go so smoothly so no biking for a while.

I saw my spine doc & he said that my L-4 vertebra is pushed out of place (I have arthritis in my spine.)

He's an MD - orthopedic surgeon who specializes in spines. He is a HUGE proponent of cycling and core strengthening. He says that a strong core is essential and can eliminate a lot of problems down the road.

ACiveE, sorry your surgery didn't go well. Hope things are looking up.

I wish core exercises weren't so boring. I may need a class for motivation.

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Originally Posted by PamNY

ACiveE, sorry your surgery didn't go well. Hope things are looking up.

I wish core exercises weren't so boring. I may need a class for motivation.

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I find that a very good Pilates mat class is not boring at all. And it's very effective.

I actually had the more common effect of getting a lower back pain after a ride or even a spinning class. I was going to the chiropractor a lot because my right hip was hitching up and rotating and causing my SI to get enflamed and spasm'd.

I knew that my left femur was shorter than my right by at least 1/8-1/4 inch. So, a few weeks ago we put shims under my left cleat - a little more than 1/8 inch. And, voila! No more back pain! Seems I was rocking my hips. My right leg was doing most of the work and my left leg was just keeping up. Now my left leg has to work as hard. It improved my power a tad also :D Cool, huh?

If I push big gears, my lower back kills me. My L-4 vertebra is out of joint. Spine doc says, "Core Exercises" - which I've been ignoring :(

Guess I'll take Tulip's advice & find a good class.

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Originally Posted by tulip

I find that a very good Pilates mat class is not boring at all. And it's very effective.

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I've been told no pilates/yoga/anything but walking for at least another 3 months...

Almost eight years ago, I had been unable to work for 1 year. I'd had enough, not sure why but I felt if I could ride a bike, it would help. :rolleyes:

I had been diagnosed with a prolapsed intervertebral disc. Have had a back problem for over 20 years. I checked with my consultant and he said providing I did not fall off, it might be a good idea.

Cut a very long story short, borrowed a bike from my son, my then new partner (who I am still with), taught me how to ride a 'modern' bike, as I had only ridden as a child.

It helped enormously, all the physio, anti-inflammatories and pain killers assisted but did not improve my situation but my bike did!

To this day, I still regularly visit my chiropractor but only as a check up, rarely is anything badly out of alignment.

Yet another super reason for me riding my bike daily.

Clock

Over two years ago, I had an episode of extreme back/buttock pain including numbness in my calf and toe that sent me to the emergency room. At the time I was a runner and had a stressful job. I ended up at the best ortho guy in the area and he scratched his head. The MRI showed a bulged disc, but apparently that is common--and shouldn't cause that much pain. Out of desperation, I went to my neighbor--a chiropractor. INSTANT relief. He diagnosed tight hamstrings, a pelvis tilt, pelvis twist, and previous blow/injury to my lower back--probably in childhood. He recommended I pick a new sport for awhile--maybe swimming and ICE, ICE, ICE. It took several weeks and two bottle of pain killers to get back to "normal." After a second episode, I demanded the Doc recommend a physical therapist. She was wonderful--didn't teach me any stretches I didn't already know (I showed up with a book, so she simply folded down corners for me) but taught me I would need to stretch twice a day, every day, for the rest of my life. She concurred that I had a twisted/tilted pelvis with a bulged vertebrae with tight hamstrings and hips.

I still stretch twice a day (there are great "back" yoga videos out there), see the chiropractor monthly, and switched to cycling. I know cycling tightens the quads which in turn stretches the hamstrings (I stretch after riding and the hammies are loosest then). However, I think I also "exhaust" my hips on long rides which is a positive. I hesitated to switch to a road bike because I didn't think I could take it, but it's actually helped my flexibility.

Thank goodness, I'm a slow runner and a terrible swimmer :D

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Originally Posted by cunninghamair

I still stretch twice a day (there are great "back" yoga videos out there), see the chiropractor monthly, and switched to cycling. I know cycling tightens the quads which in turn stretches the hamstrings (I stretch after riding and the hammies are loosest then). However, I think I also "exhaust" my hips on long rides which is a positive. I hesitated to switch to a road bike because I didn't think I could take it, but it's actually helped my flexibility.

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I have a similar problem, except mine is a rotated hip which in turn yanks on my right SI joint around the back and down the front of my quads on one side. I absolutely know that if I stretch religiously I won't have spasms, but I frequently forget and end up in serious backaches that won't allow me any range of movement at all.

Somehow I have to develop the habit of stretching more frequently -- I know I will save myself a world of hurtin' . There's nothing worse than getting a back spasm when you're out on the bike and 20 miles from home!

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Originally Posted by Dogmama

If I push big gears, my lower back kills me. My L-4 vertebra is out of joint. Spine doc says, "Core Exercises" - which I've been ignoring :(

Guess I'll take Tulip's advice & find a good class.

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I know if I push too hard and long on bike, my lower back might hurt later.

Simple ab/core exercises and all over stretching helps me a great deal. I have to do them regularily, several days per wk., as preventive medicine. :) Prevents also sudden back muscle seizure also if I should sit in my chair incorrectly.