Services on Demand
Article
Indicators
Related links
- Cited by Google
- Similars in Google
Share
South African Journal of Sports Medicine
On-line version ISSN 2078-516X
Print version ISSN 1015-5163
Abstract
VAN DER WALT, A et al. Non-traumatic injury profile of amateur cyclists. SA J. Sports Med. [online]. 2014, vol.26, n.4, pp.119-122. ISSN 2078-516X. http://dx.doi.org/10.7196/SAJSM.555.
BACKGROUND: Non-traumatic bicycle injuries are common. However, research available on non-traumatic injuries in amateur cyclists is more than a decade old, and most of the research on this topic has been done in Europe and America on professional cyclists in multi-day cycling events. An understanding of the common injuries may lead to appropriate prevention intervention OBJECTIVE: To determine the incidence of overuse injuries in amateur cyclists preparing for participation in a 1-day cycle challenge METHODS: A questionnaire was emailed to participants of the 2012 Momentum 94.7 Cycle Challenge, which amateur participants >18 years old were invited to complete. Data on demographics, training habits and the participants' injury profile in the preceding year were collected RESULTS: Of the 3 300 respondents, 75% were male and 59% were between 30 and 50 years old. Non-traumatic injury, pain or neurological symptoms were reported by 88% of the respondents. The percentages of all respondents who experienced problems in the following anatomical areas were as follows: neck 34%, back 41%, hand/wrist 41%, buttock/perineum 41%, hip 7%, knee 33% and foot/ankle 24%. Knee pain was responsible for the need to stop training for the largest percentage of respondents. Neurological complaints were common in respondents who experienced neck, back, hand/wrist, buttock/perineum and foot/ankle problems CONCLUSION: Non-traumatic injuries in amateur cyclists are common, with back, hand/wrist and buttock/perineal symptoms the most frequent problems. Knee problems caused the greatest need to stop training and seek medical help