VCU news

By Anne Dreyfuss
C. Kenneth and Dianne Wright Center for Clinical and Translational Research

During the 2015 UCI Road World Championships, more than 1,000 of the world’s fittest cyclists descended on Richmond streets. As the exclusive medical sponsor for the event, Virginia Commonwealth University Health provided a large team of health care professionals to treat athletes and spectators attending the events.

Sports medicine doctor Katherine L. Dec, M.D., was one of the expert physicians providing care at the event. Dec is a professor in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at the VCU School of Medicine. During a Twitter chat, she answered questions about how to best prevent and treat conditions common to cycling such as knee injuries, nerve injuries and trauma injuries.

VCU will host a variety of Twitter chats with medical experts in the coming months. Stay engaged with the conversation by following @VCUHealth on Twitter and searching for the hashtag #VCUHealthChat.

Below are Dec’s replies to some of the questions raised on Twitter.

Tell us about the experience you have in treating cyclists.

I’ve volunteered with USA Cycling for the Pan American Games and for the Paralympics cycling championships and I treat cyclists locally.

What are the most common muscle and joint problems that cyclists encounter?

Knee problems and back pain are the most common from overuse. Low-back pain and neck pain are the two areas most cyclists complain of in the back. Proper bike fit and seat height has to be correct for your posture and for your knee angle. Handlebars need to be in the right position and related to your seat position when riding. Flexibility and core strength are also important.

I see athletes with concussions and a cracked helmet, but their injuries could have been much worse if they were not wearing one.

Why is it important to wear a bike helmet and what are the risks of not wearing one?

It may reduce the risk of head injuries or brain injuries such as concussions. I see athletes with concussions and a cracked helmet, but their injuries could have been much worse if they were not wearing one.

Some cyclists complain of numbness in the hands. What causes that?

It can come from two things. The first one could be pinched nerves in your neck referring numbness to your hands. The second one is compressing nerves when gripping handlebars. Elbow position is also important for avoiding numbness from your ulnar nerve.

How can everyone incorporate cycling into their lives?

Purchasing a bike and a bike helmet and finding an open piece of road. You don’t need a custom bike to get started. Those that require adaptive cycling have resources in Richmond for hand cycling or those with limb deficiency.

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