More attention being given to saddles issues for women

[zoom-zoom]

LW, do you suppose there's a chamois butter that would help...perhaps something with tea tree oil? That would be awful. I am thankful that I've not had saddle sores of that variety. Owie.

I've been reading more about swayback. This site suggests it's often caused by sitting a lot, but it's definitely genetic in my case...my mom, brother, sister, and son all are shaped like that (and I wish my kid sat more...he's so freaking ADHD, heh). My mom and sister and I all have tilted uterus issues and endometriosis, as well. There are a couple of good graphics that make sense of my crotch issues:

[Kathi]

I'm the opposite, I have a posterior pelvic tilt. I also had endometrious when I was younger. After my PT started working with me on pelvic tilt I searched for information on this but kept coming up with information from men who usually talked about swayback. Recently I found the Hab It website. Not only does the site connect the dots for me on how to find a neutral pelvis it also educated me about how good posture affects female organs as explained in this video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hcTEUKp7zsY&lr=1

Yikes! I had no clue about the ailments women experience from their pelvis. These things were never talked about in my family, and being post menopausal it's extremely important for me to know this.

When I worked I never sat, didn't have a muffin top or any back problems. I thought I was slowing down in retirement (sit to much) and I know my SI joint issues have affected my activity level. Since I've been working on mobility in my spine and better posture I've discovered muscles in my lower body that I probably haven't used in years. I feel I'm moving better and stronger, even though I don't do much weight training, while I'm watching my family and friends lose strength and mobility as they age.

If you search around the site there's information on how to activate muscles important to the spine and pelvis, ie, how to sit, how to protect the organs and prevent the ailments many of the women on the site are suffering from. Sometimes the information is an answer to questions on the blog.

I guess in a way my SI joint issues were a blessing as the things I'm learning because of it will help me to age more gracefully.

[zoom-zoom]

In the little bit I was reading about lordosis I'm really surprised that I've never been prone to lower back stuff (upper back and neck, definitely--mostly the fault of my DH's jerk cat who steals my pillow and pushes my head off to the side. I get neck spasms on a regular basis from that fur-turd).

[Kathi]

This position helps me a lot when I sit, it takes the stress off my low back.

http://hab-it.com/blog/?p=105

My SI joint issues started when I bent, from my waist not my hips, over to pick up an empty milk jug off the floor. It locked up, I couldn't straighten up. I don't know why I have this problem but some theories I've heard from PT's is that it was from an injury many years ago or it's an inherited condition. My PT also thought with good lower back mobility and neutral spine I can keep it under control.

I hear you about the cat. When I had injuries that I needed to support on a pillow my cat used to steal the pillow. I would wake up in pain and find his little head snuggled in the middle of the pillow. It was an airline type pillow and it was the perfect size for him. I swear he had a smile on his face.

[Wahine]

Recently I found the Hab It website. Not only does the site connect the dots for me on how to find a neutral pelvis it also educated me about how good posture affects female organs as explained in this video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hcTEUKp7zsY&lr=1

I finally got a chance to watch this video all the way through. It is an excellent summary of posture and neutral pelvis/spine. Thanks again for sharing.

[smittykitty]

Wow! my new PT has been instructing me on EVERYTHING in the Youtube video! She has shown me how to flatten out the curve in my lower back. She asked me why I was sitting off the back of my saddle. She showed me how with correct pelvic tilt, I could sit more forward, with my weight on my sit bones, the pressure automatically was gone from the girlybits because they were no longer pushing on the front of the saddle.

Let's see what else she noticed within 30 sections:

I need to:
Relax upper body, arms, shoulders
Head down, look up with eyes
Use muscles to keep knees aligned over 2, 3rd toes
Heels down
Flat back, Pelvic tilt, pressure off the girlybits
Move forward on saddle
Pedal stroke: front, back, up (no pushing down: right quad pain)
relaxed hands, lightly on hoods,
Did I mention heels down!

On the trainer: put hands behind back, core to hold me up!!


I'm sure there a few more things I forgot. I'm making improvements. Pain in right quad seems to get way better at about mile 10-12.

Really hard yesterday to remember all of this when climbing. But I got up that darn hill. (Had to stop and exchange my lungs for new ones, but I got up it!)
Was able to do a few seconds of "Look Ma Now Hands" (hands barely off the hoods) yesterday.

Finding a female PT who cycles (Tri) has been very helpful. It's incredible where you find you have weaknesses and how they effect function in other parts of the body. Hopefully by strengthening my weak hips and core and improving posture, along with loosening by tight IT band, my leg pain will subside.

I've sure learned a lot about my posture from here.

Oh, and thanks Wahine. You're great advice here, got me to see her.

[Wahine]

Oh, and thanks Wahine. You're great advice here, got me to see her.

You're welcome.

[indysteel]

@Smittykitty,

I'm curious about the your PT's instruction to "use muscles to keep knees aligned over 2nd and 3rd toes." Do you, like me, have a tendency to ride kneed in? Did she say, specifically, how to ride with better knee alignment and how to engage your muscles to do that? If I pay really close attention, I can maintain better alignment, but the minute my attention shifts--as it often does--I'm back to bad form. I'd love any insight that you have.....

[smittykitty]

She didn't have any magical advice, just use your leg muscles to hold the leg in line over the 2nd, 3rd toes. Also, both legs should be equal distance from top tube.

I know what you mean, my mental checklist is soooo long! And I've got to say, my knee is pretty low on the list right now.

The BG fitters at the lbs put a shim in the big toe/under ball of foot area under insole of my new road shoes. They were the first to point out that my right knee was flopping around like a fish out of water! I think it has really helped. As the PT pointed out to me, the lbs guys try to stop the flopping, her job is to teach me how to use muscles to fix the problem.

[Owlie]

LW, do you suppose there's a chamois butter that would help...perhaps something with tea tree oil? That would be awful. I am thankful that I've not had saddle sores of that variety. Owie.

I've been reading more about swayback. This site suggests it's often caused by sitting a lot, but it's definitely genetic in my case...my mom, brother, sister, and son all are shaped like that (and I wish my kid sat more...he's so freaking ADHD, heh). My mom and sister and I all have tilted uterus issues and endometriosis, as well. There are a couple of good graphics that make sense of my crotch issues:

Are you sure you're not me? In my case, I think it's caused by weak back/core muscles. I can consciously return the arch to normal, but I have to work to keep it there, and it's been getting better since I started doing yoga on a semi-regular basis. I wonder if that's part of the reason for my current saddle woes...

[Wahine]

The article is silly at best. You've all articulated the reasons why. I particularly like that the lady in the photo is not fit well to her bike at all and is riding on the nose of the saddle.

I really wish I could figure out a way to make a flow chart to help women find the right type of saddle for them. I also wish that I would get paid to design women's saddles and have them actually go to production without being completely altered by the powers that be in the name of marketing.

Thanks to Kathi and Zoom-zoom for some great links on posture. It is a vital component of riding. I frequently get riders in for a bike fitting that turns into a postural training and pedaling efficiency session instead. This is useful information.

[Trek420]

I really wish I could figure out a way to make a flow chart to help women find the right type of saddle for them.

I think you and Knott should make the ap that runs women through a saddle/fit checklist and recommends the right saddle. Then go buy an island to retire on.

[Wahine]

I think you and Knott should make the ap that runs women through a saddle/fit checklist and recommends the right saddle. Then go buy an island to retire on.

Wouldn't that be nice. Maybe you should start shopping for an island. We won't have time since we'll be working on the app.

[Trek420]

Wouldn't that be nice. Maybe you should start shopping for an island. We won't have time since we'll be working on the app.

Ok. Will do.

[zoom-zoom]

Are you sure you're not me? In my case, I think it's caused by weak back/core muscles. I can consciously return the arch to normal, but I have to work to keep it there, and it's been getting better since I started doing yoga on a semi-regular basis. I wonder if that's part of the reason for my current saddle woes...

I can't straighten that area of my back, at all. Not even when I was doing yoga and tons of core work on a regular basis. When I lay on the floor I can't pull my lower back to touch the floor at all, not even with my knees up.