Welcome guest, Login
painful thumbs!
sallyann 
| 06 Jul 12:32 |
|---|---|
|
Joined: 29 Jun 2010 Posts: 38 Bike: My Profile | Hi I've been cycling 2-3 times a week for the past couple of months and I'm really suffering with pain in my thumbs! Any suggestions? |
|
Aurum
| 06 Jul 14:58 |
|---|---|
|
Joined: 18 Jun 2010 Posts: 15 Bike: My Profile | Hi Sallyann, You don't mention what type of bike you are riding and whether you have drop handlebars or straight. My guess is that you are probably stressing your thumbs due to supporting too much upper body weight while hooking your thumbs around the bars. It might be worth adopting a more upright position by either raising your handlebar height or lowering your saddle a little bit. Of course there is always a compromise and your saddle height needs to be correct to keep your legs at the correct extensions while you pedal. If you can't raise your handle bars it might be worth trying a drop in your saddle height just for a week or two to give those thmbs a rest. |
| My Latest Route: Jul 2010 Cheslyn Hay to Coven Circular | |
|
sallyann
| 07 Jul 03:34 |
|---|---|
|
Joined: 29 Jun 2010 Posts: 38 Bike: My Profile | Thanx! That sounds spot on, i do think i'm doing exactly what you said! I'm riding a Trek mb with straight bars and road tyres. Do you think bar ends would help? |
|
dudley
| 07 Jul 05:42 |
|---|---|
|
Joined: 16 Jan 2009 Posts: 498 Bike: My Profile | bar ends may not specifically help, but do give you more options to alter your grip which may alleviate the symptoms. As well as saddle height, you may want to consider saddle position forwards / backwards. If you are too far back, you will be leaning heavily on the bars. a small adjustment may help |
| My Latest Route: Nov 2009 Forth Estuary Circular | |
|
sallyann
| 07 Jul 09:55 |
|---|---|
|
Joined: 29 Jun 2010 Posts: 38 Bike: My Profile | Thanx for the suggestions I'll make some adjustments to my riding position, i didn't have the problem on my old bike, a lovely special order extra small Klein which was sadly stolen! And my Trek is bigger, so i think that might help! |
|
Aurum
| 07 Jul 16:53 |
|---|---|
|
Joined: 18 Jun 2010 Posts: 15 Bike: My Profile | Hi Sallyann, I was suffering with some painfull wrists when I started cycling, but found that the adjustments I mentioned to you did the trick. I now have my bike set-up back to the text book settings and now do not have any wrist pain. I think I just needed to ease a little of the pressure I was placing on them until my wrists had a chance to heal and strengthen up. I hope you are able to cycle painfree soon. Regards Aurum |
| My Latest Route: Jul 2010 Cheslyn Hay to Coven Circular | |
|
BusterG
| 20 Jul 07:50 |
|---|---|
 Joined: 25 Feb 2010 Posts: 372 Bike: My Profile | Hi. Barends helped my sore and bruised wrists on a straight handle bar. I suspect it is more about allowing the wrists and palms to recover circulation if I move my hands around regularly. Good luck |
| My Latest Route: Oct 2013 Liss | |
| skid100 | 20 Jul 10:13 |
|---|---|
|
Joined: 15 Jun 2010 Posts: 2 Bike: | HI hope your thumbs are better, it does sound more about lack of circulation than anything else - try changing hand positions anyway because there is a risk also of carple tunnel syndrome given the wrists are often exended and preasure is placed on that area. I'm a keen cyclist but also look after a few clubs in my sports injury clinic.If I can be of further help or advice send me an email etc happy to help. Paul web site is www.paulskidmore-therapies.co.uk |
|
albion
| 22 Jul 06:25 |
|---|---|
|
Joined: 11 Jul 2010 Posts: 99 Bike: My Profile | My old Velocity with a longer wheelbase made my hands numb. On my shorter wheelbase bike I seem to have no such problems. The bars on it also have very thick rubber grips which of course would alleviate some pressure. I feel very 'upright' with little pressure on my hands so maybe that is also the difference. I almost always wear decent gloves now too, although they are full of holes now. I even tried bar ends on the Velocity and they never did help so I took them off! The current bike as the ahead bar so maybe I guessed right first time when setting the angle. |
| My Latest Route: Feb 2012 Bowes Railway Path Start to End | |
|
Pesmo
| 25 Jul 17:36 |
|---|---|
|
Joined: 17 Jul 2010 Posts: 89 Bike: My Profile | I had similar problems and have now cured it with a combination of what the folks are saying above; Slightly more upright position so I put less of my bodyweight down my arms Ergonomic grips with Bar ends A nice pair of Gel cycling gloves Problem solved |
|
sallyann
| 26 Jul 12:50 |
|---|---|
|
Joined: 29 Jun 2010 Posts: 38 Bike: My Profile | Thanks everyone for the suggestions, they are slightly better now i've adjusted the handlebars, and i am trying to keep my weight off my hands. I hope to get some bar ends shortly. It's comforting to know you're all out there with helpful tips and suggestions! |
| Heth | 01 Nov 16:35 |
|---|---|
|
Joined: 01 Nov 2016 Posts: 1 Bike: | I've had this problem since I changed to a new bike, a boardman comp. the problem occurs only on the right hand which changes gears most often. And it's on the middle joint rather than where the thumb joins the hand. Is it the gear lever do you think? Both are push triggers |
Cycle Forum
Announcement
Find the latest cycle gear and who sells them within the UK. Share the experience you have with a product with others to help them make an informed choice.