Can Chiropractic Care Benefit Cyclists?

The health benefits of cycling are nearly immeasurable. However, depending on the posture one takes when riding as well as several other factors, this enjoyable pastime and sport can sometimes cause or worsen lower back pain. Therefore, if you want to get active and start riding, take a look at why adding chiropractic care may be a great idea.

Excessive cycling or using an incorrect posture while cycling can take a toll on muscles, ligaments, tendons, and nerves over time and trauma to other parts of your body can radiate to your spine, misaligning and damaging it. In addition to the lower back, cyclists can experience pain in other areas of the body as well: 

  • Neck/Back: This can include tightness and pain in the neck and back and even involve spasms. 

  • Shoulder: This can include AC joint sprains and clavicle fractures. 

  • Hand/Wrist/Forearm: Cyclists often complain of pain in these areas and even Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. 

  • The feet: Numbness and tingling sometimes develop in these areas.

  • Knee/Legs: This includes Cyclist’s Knee (Patellofemoral syndrome), patella and quadriceps tendonitis

Chiropractic care can help cyclists recover from pain in all of these areas so that they can get back out on the road with improved mobility, enhanced overall health and less joint pain to the affected areas. Cyclists who have undergone chiropractic care also report that they have experienced improvements in respiration, range of motion, heart rate variability, muscle strength and overall athletic ability.

Tips for Preventing Cycling Pain and Injury

Of course, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. You can reduce cycling pain injury by doing the following: 

  • Stretch before a ride.

  • Make sure your bike is properly fitted to you. 

  • Adjust your seat height so it’s not too low or high.

  • Align your knees and feet when riding.

  • Use the entire pedal stroke to avoid pointed toes and fatigued and cramped calves.

  • Adjust your handle grip frequently and avoid gripping too tightly.


As a chiropractor in Thousand Oaks, I have treated many sports related maladies. I have given many people back pain relief in Thousand Oaks. I know that the temptation to ignore such pain can be great for cyclists. However, this is always a mistake. Chiropractic care is a safe, non-invasive method of managing cycling pain and injuries.  

Michael Richeychiropractor, Thousand Oaks Chiropractor, personalized treatment