How a Chiropractor Can Help after a Bicycle Accident

If you have ridden a bicycle for any length of time, you’re probably aware that bicycle accidents are very common – especially here in Florida. Going out on your bike means putting yourself at risk of everything from the minor scrapes that might result from a simple fall to far more severe injuries that can occur if a car hits you or you are otherwise thrown from the bike.

In fact, over 500,000 bicycle-related visits to United States emergency rooms occur each year. Head injuries are common among cycling injuries, as well as injuries to the neck or lower back. Then, of course, there are regular “wear-and-tear” injuries that regular riders tend to suffer from.

Bottom line? Riding a bicycle is risky. You need to use the proper equipment, especially a helmet, and your bike must be well-maintained. Additionally, you need strong muscles and proper alignment to avoid or minimize injury.

So that’s the bad news. Here’s the good: a knowledgeable, experienced chiropractor can help you with all of those issues.

Why You Should Get Chiropractic Care If You Ride a Bike

Head and neck problems. If you have a head or neck injury related to a bicycle accident, an experienced chiropractor can work to realign your spine and strengthen the muscles in your neck. They can massage away the soreness and teach you stretching exercises and good posture techniques so you can get back to riding.

Additionally, with a realignment, a chiropractor helps get your neck into the right position along your spine. You can learn techniques for stretching that will strengthen your neck muscles and make them less prone to injury in the future.

Lower back pain. Sitting on the bike for long periods of time puts stress on the spine and makes it prone to injury. When you visit the chiropractor, they will give you a realignment to ease the source of the pain. They can also teach you exercises to strengthen your core muscles, which support a healthy posture and strong back. A knowledgeable chiropractor will also advise you on proper bike fit, which will keep your back in good alignment.

Misalignment. George Rhodes, DC, a Philadelphia chiropractor and endurance cyclist, says that repetitive activities like cycling can disrupt your alignment. “It also can amplify any hidden structural abnormalities – even from years or decades prior – that you already have.” Rhodes says he regularly visits a chiropractor himself to keep in good alignment and good form for biking.

Knee pain. This is a frequent problem among cyclists, and it can be related to misalignment of the back and hips. Your chiropractor can fix the problems in your alignment to help ease your knee pain.

Numbness. Some cyclists complain about numbness in their hands or feet. This can be due to compressed disks in your spine or pressure on your joints. A chiropractor can show you the proper way to sit on your bike to take the pressure off your hands and feet. They can also investigate the source of the numbness and work to solve it with therapeutic treatment.

Muscle pain. If you are experiencing muscle pain after a cycling injury, your chiropractor can pinpoint the causes for your problems. Some cyclists have muscle fatigue due to overuse. You also may have muscle tightness due to cycling. A massage from your chiropractor can dissipate toxins and relieve your symptoms.

Chiropractic care can not only help you recover from a cycling injury, it can prevent future injuries from occurring. Contact a chiropractor today to receive the help and healing you need.

About the Author:

Dr. Singer has been a practicing chiropractor for more than 20 years, and USA Health & Therapy has been around since 2004. Over the course of his career, Singer has helped tens of thousands of people with all kinds of issues by using a wide variety of treatment strategies. He has extensive knowledge of chiropractic modalities, including Gonstead, Diversified, Thompson Drop Table, and Activator, and in 1997 he earned a special adjunctive Chiropractic Certification in Spinal Trauma (CCST) to better provide care for car crash victims. Dr. Singer is licensed to practice chiropractic medicine in both Florida and New York.