Nowadays, outdoor activities have been increasingly sought after by cycling enthusiasts, such as riding 20 to 30 kilometers for short distances, crossing provinces for long distances, and even stepping out of the country. However, if the cycling method is not appropriate, it can cause physical injury. Retired elderly man, Uncle Chen, enjoys cycling to work all year round and enjoys long-distance trips with his car enthusiasts in his spare time. However, over time, he unexpectedly experienced severe discomfort in the perineum and gradually developed chronic pain, forcing him to withdraw from the activities organized by the car enthusiast club. Although cycling can enhance physical fitness, it is important to master scientific methods to avoid potential damage to the perineal nerves and soft tissues.

Old people dare not sit for eight years

Uncle Chen, who is nearly seventy years old, has been unable to sit down normally like an ordinary person for the past eight years. Due to the continuous pain in the perineum, he suffered greatly. At first, Uncle was still able to bear it and never mentioned it to his children. As the condition worsens, the elderly often suffer from pain that makes it difficult to sleep all night. As soon as they sit down, they will experience severe pain, accompanied by symptoms of numbness in their right foot. Over the past eight years, Uncle Chen has been seeking medical treatment everywhere. After several operations, he still cannot relieve his pain. He can only rely on medicine to relieve his pain. Recently, Uncle was accompanied by his family to seek medical attention.

After receiving the diagnosis, the doctor inquired in detail about Uncle Chen's medical history. It turned out that he used to ride an old bicycle, with a large and clumsy body and a hard seat, which lasted for decades. In the future, with the improvement of living standards, Uncle became addicted to outdoor car enthusiast activities and always enjoyed them. However, due to incorrect cycling posture throughout the year, it invisibly compresses the perineum and causes soft tissue damage, which leads to long-term pain in the perineum of the elderly. After a comprehensive examination, Uncle Chen was diagnosed with soft tissue damage (aseptic inflammation of soft tissue) in the lumbosacral buttocks and legs. Subsequently, the doctor used the theory of soft tissue surgery to give patients strong stimulation massage of soft tissue pain points. After further treatments such as manual reduction, local pain point hormone blockade, and silver needle release of the right buttock soft tissue, Uncle's pain was almost completely relieved, and normal sitting up was no longer a luxury.

Wrong cycling method with many hidden dangers

The benefits of cycling exercise are unlimited time and speed. Cycling, known as "golden aerobic exercise", is one of the best tools to overcome heart function problems. It can make the heart muscle contract forcefully, enhance the elasticity of blood vessel wall, speed up blood circulation, and increase Vital capacity and improve respiratory function. At the same time, it also helps to improve the strength, coordination, and balance of lower limb muscles, prevent body weight gain, vascular sclerosis, and make bones strong.

Despite the many benefits of cycling, improper cycling can lead to many health risks. In addition to the perineal pain caused by long-term compression like Uncle Chen, for men, improper cycling can also cause significant damage to the prostate. When riding a bicycle, rocking up and down, left and right pedaling, relatively backward center of gravity, uneven roads or long periods of cycling are common incentives for Prostatitis.

A study from the United States has confirmed that men who ride bicycles for a long time are more likely to develop erectile dysfunction. Nowadays, bicycle seats are usually narrow and hard, and riding on them can put a lot of pressure on the genitals. The force point of the bicycle seat is exactly between the anus and scrotum, and there is an artery that can control the congestion ability of the penis. If compressed for a long time, it is naturally prone to erectile dysfunction.

For women, long-term cycling is prone to swelling and even swelling between the base of the thighs and the external genitalia. This is because the female pelvis is wider, and the pubic arch is lower and flatter than that of the male, which matches the seat of the car, making the groin and surrounding soft tissues more susceptible to friction. So women who ride bicycles for years and months, especially when carrying people and objects on the bike, are more likely to increase the probability of developing genital and inguinal tumors in weight-bearing women.

In addition, it may cause Sports injury during cycling. If the handle of the bicycle is low, the rider always maintains a forced posture of raising their head and neck, which can cause neck muscle tension and accompanying shoulder and neck pain over time. Cyclists' knee joints undergo periodic flexion and extension for a long time, which is also prone to degenerative changes and chronic damage to the knee joints.

Tips for Healthy Cycling

How can one ride healthily and avoid unnecessary injuries? Firstly, it is necessary to master the height and angle of the car seat. Generally speaking, the car seat should be installed horizontally or slightly lower forward, and the front end must not tilt upwards. A wide and soft foam plastic cushion should be placed on the car seat cushion to reduce friction. At the same time, the car seat should be adjusted to a moderate height, not too high or too low, to avoid scratching the genitals and wearing joints. Secondly, when riding a bicycle, sit your buttocks upright and balance the force on your legs to prevent excessive force on one side from forming lumps. Thirdly, if the cycling time is long, it is important to change the cycling posture to shift the body's center of gravity, reduce or disperse the load on the neck and waist muscles, or at any time, get off the bike and walk for a while, alternating the activity methods. Fourthly, when cycling, if discomfort is found in the perineum, the cause should be promptly identified. If there is a problem with the seat, it should be improved in a timely manner, and attention should be paid to rest. After the symptoms are eliminated, cycling can be resumed; If the pain in the buttocks still persists, a specialist should be consulted for a detailed examination.

For enthusiasts who are just beginning to experience cycling, they should start long-distance activities after receiving adaptability training. At the same time, for many outdoor enthusiasts, regardless of which project they choose, they should act within their abilities and be moderate without excessive. From a cycling perspective, each ride can last for 30 minutes and should not exceed 60 minutes. If you ride a Mountain bike off-road climbing, you'd better wear a helmet to protect your head and face. (organized by Yi Xiaofeng and Baiyun)