The Importance of Stretching
Discussion
I've never been that good at pre/post ride stretches and now I have piriformis syndrome - where your piriformis muscle (arse cheek muscle) squashes your sciatic nerve due to tightness in the muscle. Imagine being dead legged by being kneed in the buttock - that's how it feels.
OMG, the pain is unreal. You just can't get comfortable sitting or lying and it's agony when you poo.
What's worse is the solution to the problem is a series of stretches that are agony.
So be warned, make sure you stretch properly after your rides.
OMG, the pain is unreal. You just can't get comfortable sitting or lying and it's agony when you poo.
What's worse is the solution to the problem is a series of stretches that are agony.
So be warned, make sure you stretch properly after your rides.
TBH if it was a choice between being ridden and that would cure it or keep the pain, I'd go for the former at the moment. I'll always feel sympathy for people with long term back pain from now on.prand said:
What stretches are needed? I seem to get similar issues with ass cheeck muscles (gluteus maximus I think?) and nerve squashing in my left leg. Nothing as bad as you are describing though.
Have a look on kneeguru and sportsinjuryclinic.net and search for piriformis stretch. Do something about it now or you'll end up crying when you poo.
pawsmcgraw said:
ewenm said:
Post-exercise stretching is important. There's little evidence that pre-exercise stretching has any benefit but a thorough warm-up and warm-down is vital. In cycling terms this usually means taking it easy for the first and last 10 minutes or so.
I agree too.Also find a visit to the physio every couple of months keeps things in check - if there's nothing obviously wrong, I always get a glute and ITB massage. Agony, but it helps.
Sympathy from a fellow sufferer... bloody sore isn't it? 
I've had the same problem, most recently in the past week. Not sure if weights, rowing or cycling (fixed gear road bike with trailer bike) was the cause this time. I had a couple of shots from the doctor, one muscle relaxant and one anti inflammatory. Then as you say, lots of stretching. Recovering now and trying to prevent any further occurrence. Try sitting on a tennis ball and moving around for some self-massage. Sounds perverse but it does help
I've had the same problem, most recently in the past week. Not sure if weights, rowing or cycling (fixed gear road bike with trailer bike) was the cause this time. I had a couple of shots from the doctor, one muscle relaxant and one anti inflammatory. Then as you say, lots of stretching. Recovering now and trying to prevent any further occurrence. Try sitting on a tennis ball and moving around for some self-massage. Sounds perverse but it does help
zax said:
Sympathy from a fellow sufferer... bloody sore isn't it?
I've had the same problem, most recently in the past week. Not sure if weights, rowing or cycling (fixed gear road bike with trailer bike) was the cause this time. I had a couple of shots from the doctor, one muscle relaxant and one anti inflammatory. Then as you say, lots of stretching. Recovering now and trying to prevent any further occurrence. Try sitting on a tennis ball and moving around for some self-massage. Sounds perverse but it does help
Thanks, will give that a try. How long did it take to go? I've been a week now and it is still really sore. I've decided to give it a week stretching etc. and if that doesn't work I'm going to see a Sports Physio.I've had the same problem, most recently in the past week. Not sure if weights, rowing or cycling (fixed gear road bike with trailer bike) was the cause this time. I had a couple of shots from the doctor, one muscle relaxant and one anti inflammatory. Then as you say, lots of stretching. Recovering now and trying to prevent any further occurrence. Try sitting on a tennis ball and moving around for some self-massage. Sounds perverse but it does help
Last October I had it real bad, was unable to train in any form for around 4 weeks. It was amazing how much it affected me, at one point I simply couldn't walk at all, and sleep was out of the question. Had the flu at the same time, so coughing and sneezing (which happened a lot more than my taking a crap 
) was killing me... Finally gave in and went to the docs in week 3, got the shots and a week later I was fine.
This week I felt it starting on Sunday. Lots of stretching, sauna, applied heat packs (hot/cold re-useable things filled with glycol), tennis ball massage and on Tuesday another couple of shots in the ass at the docs. Feeling fine by Wednesday but kept up the heating & stretching, back in the gym yesterday & today for weights & indoor rowing but taking it very easy for now. No heavy squats or deadlifts.
Haven't been back on the bike yet, which is really annoying Junior because he wants to go to daycare on the trailerbike. But that's just too strenuous for now, he's not so easy to haul.
For some reason icing the offending area does nothing at all in my case, even though I've seen it recommended on the internet. And the internet knows everything
) was killing me... Finally gave in and went to the docs in week 3, got the shots and a week later I was fine. This week I felt it starting on Sunday. Lots of stretching, sauna, applied heat packs (hot/cold re-useable things filled with glycol), tennis ball massage and on Tuesday another couple of shots in the ass at the docs. Feeling fine by Wednesday but kept up the heating & stretching, back in the gym yesterday & today for weights & indoor rowing but taking it very easy for now. No heavy squats or deadlifts.
Haven't been back on the bike yet, which is really annoying Junior because he wants to go to daycare on the trailerbike. But that's just too strenuous for now, he's not so easy to haul.
For some reason icing the offending area does nothing at all in my case, even though I've seen it recommended on the internet. And the internet knows everything
Nick_F said:
fergus said:
PomBstard said:
....ITB massage.....
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