Traumatic and overuse injuries in amateur cycling

What are the most common injuries in amateur cycling?

According to multiple studies, the injury rate in amateur cycling ranges from 3.23 to 116 per 1,000 people. The most common injuries are divided into traumatic injuries (resulting from falls) and injuries caused by overuse, overuse, or overload.
We can define amateur cycling as a generic term for recreational, racing, commuting, and utility cycling.
Its health benefits are well known. There is evidence that cycling improves cognitive ability and well-being in adults, while providing the benefits of aerobic exercise. Its popularity is booming, and at the same time, injuries from falls and overuse are also increasing.

What are the most common traumatic injuries in amateur cycling?

The most common traumatic injuries are superficial skin injuries (contusions, abrasions, lacerations, and hematomas), with fractures being the second most common injury.
Among fractures, the most commonly affected region is the shoulder (scapula, clavicle, and humerus), with clavicle fractures being the most common.
Other fracture sites include the hand, wrist, elbow, and forearm.

Is clavicle fracture surgery necessary for amateur cyclists?

Clavicle fractures often pose a dilemma regarding their treatment. The long-awaited return to racing makes us wonder whether surgical intervention would allow us to return to competition. In this regard, there are studies comparing surgical fixation versus conservative treatment for clavicle fractures. These studies conclude that surgical fixation resulted in a return to activity within 77 days, compared to 44 days for conservative treatment. However, this statistic is attributed to the greater severity of the fractures treated, concluding that for the same injury, treated fractures result in a faster return to competition. For this reason, most elite cyclists with a clavicle fracture undergo surgical fixation.

What are the most common overuse injuries in amateur cycling?

While fractures tend to occur most frequently in the upper limb, overuse or overuse injuries usually occur in the lower limb, and of these, the knee is the region that suffers the most overuse injuries.
Among knee overuse injuries, patellofemoral syndrome (see article on patellar chondropathy) is the most common, closely followed by iliotibial band syndrome (See article on iliotibial band syndrome).
Patellofemoral syndrome in cyclists is caused by increased pressure on the patellar cartilage during repeated knee flexion, sometimes exacerbated by factors such as:

• a low saddle
• a small frame
• cranksets that are too long
• a downward-facing saddle nose
• a saddle that is too forward

Overuse injuries can also be caused by:

• Anatomical changes in the cyclist:
  • spine and lower extremity deviations
  • patella changes
  • different lengths of the lower extremities
• Bicycle:
  • frame type
  • forward pedal engagement
• Terrain
• Training/competition-related
  • Muscle injuries: cramps, soreness, tears, or ruptures of tendons
  • ligaments
  • cartilage.

Other studies implicate the cervical region, hips, hands, dorsal and lumbar areas as also frequent sites of overuse injuries, and that this excessive use often leads to the development of chronic pain.

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