UK and Europe · Public discussion

Sore and numb Trap & Tight hamstrings

Email address hidden · 2007-06-28T22:27:43+00:00

Hi, I'm 20 years old, 145 Lbs, 6 foot tall. I'll try to make this short and sweet: I started doing a lot of running, than swimming than cycling just a few months ago. Now, I always had tight hamstrings, but it seems to get worst and worst the more I do sports. I stretch them often, but maybe not at the right time or the right technique. Is it a bad thing to stretch them when my muscles are cold? There so tight my leg on the pedal when I drive my car gets numb after 30-40 minutes. Now, this tight hamstrings problem doesn't seem to restrict my movements when I do some bike of run, but it's bad for other things. If you want more details, see my post at: http://groups.google.com/group/rec.running/browse_thread/thread/495d7b768ec8eaf7/d20f14b129dbc0aa?lnk=st&q=sebzzz&rnum=6#d20f14b129dbc0aa I use my bike (regular mountain bike, with tires that are slick in the middle to be easier) to go to work sometimes (about 30k from my home). After a while, I start feeling really numb in my right trap, and when I stop and move my arms a bit, it's real pain for a couple of minutes (like needles in my trap). I can't even turn my head on the right when I'm on the bike after a while, it hurts too much. Now, every time I do some bike, this pain arrives faster and faster. I suspect my posture of my grip on the bike, but I wonder what to do. Also good to know, I get some "needles in the trap" feeling even when I'm not doing anything now, but very mild not real pain. An other problem, yesterday at the end of my ride, I started feeling numb in my left hand, and it stayed numb for about 24 hours. This is probably due to the fact that I didn't have my gloves for the ride. (or could it be related to the trap pain?) Some would probably say over training or something, but I don't feel more tired than usual, and it's also good to say that I always had tight hamstrings (as a kid I already had that). So, can anybody help me with those problems? Thanks!

Started by Email address hidden · 28 June 2007 · Last activity 3 July 2007 · 12 posts · 381 views

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01 / Original postSore and numb Trap & Tight hamstringsEmail address hidden · 28 Jun 2007 02 / This pagePosts 1–12Page 1 of 1 · chronological order 03 / Latest replyPost #12Pete Connors · 3 Jul 2007

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Original section: UK and Europe
Published: 28 June 2007
Last activity: 3 July 2007
Original author: Email address hidden
Posts: 12
Discussion status: Public discussion
Total views: 381
Views / 30 days: 0
Topics: Bike fit Crit racing Gloves Hand and wrist pain Numbness and nerve issues

The navigation and discussion metadata provide context. Posts remain in their original chronological order.

Original post
Email address hidden
Archived post

28 June 2007, 22:27 UTC #1

Hi,
I'm 20 years old, 145 Lbs, 6 foot tall.
I'll try to make this short and sweet:
I started doing a lot of running, than swimming than cycling just a
few months ago.
Now, I always had tight hamstrings, but it seems to get worst and
worst the more I do sports. I stretch them often, but maybe not at the
right time or the right technique. Is it a bad thing to stretch them
when my muscles are cold? There so tight my leg on the pedal when I
drive my car gets numb after 30-40 minutes.
Now, this tight hamstrings problem doesn't seem to restrict my
movements when I do some bike of run, but it's bad for other things.
If you want more details, see my post at:
http://groups.google.com/group/rec.running/browse_thread/thread/495d7b768ec8eaf7/d20f14b129dbc0aa?lnk=st&q=sebzzz&rnum=6#d20f14b129dbc0aa
I use my bike (regular mountain bike, with tires that are slick in the
middle to be easier) to go to work sometimes (about 30k from my home).
After a while, I start feeling really numb in my right trap, and when
I stop and move my arms a bit, it's real pain for a couple of minutes
(like needles in my trap). I can't even turn my head on the right when
I'm on the bike after a while, it hurts too much. Now, every time I do
some bike, this pain arrives faster and faster. I suspect my posture
of my grip on the bike, but I wonder what to do. Also good to know, I
get some "needles in the trap" feeling even when I'm not doing
anything now, but very mild not real pain.
An other problem, yesterday at the end of my ride, I started feeling
numb in my left hand, and it stayed numb for about 24 hours. This is
probably due to the fact that I didn't have my gloves for the ride.
(or could it be related to the trap pain?)
Some would probably say over training or something, but I don't feel
more tired than usual, and it's also good to say that I always had
tight hamstrings (as a kid I already had that).
So, can anybody help me with those problems?
Thanks!

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Mark
Archived post

28 June 2007, 22:37 UTC #2

Quoted message said:
So, can anybody help me with those problems?
Thanks!
As the stretches aren't working, see a sports physio for the tight
hamstrings.
As to the rest, check bike fit, wear padded gloves, have only a light grip
of the bars.

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Daniel Barlow
Archived post

28 June 2007, 23:32 UTC #3

Quoted message said:
Now, I always had tight hamstrings, but it seems to get worst and
worst the more I do sports. I stretch them often, but maybe not at the
right time or the right technique. Is it a bad thing to stretch them
when my muscles are cold?
All the advice I've had is "yes". Warm up first, _then_ stretch.
-dan

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Pete Connors
Archived post

29 June 2007, 13:28 UTC #4

Quoted message said:
An other problem, yesterday at the end of my ride, I started feeling
numb in my left hand, and it stayed numb for about 24 hours. This is
probably due to the fact that I didn't have my gloves for the ride.
(or could it be related to the trap pain?)
If the numbness is appearing in the little/ring finger region this is
ulnar nerve palsy. From experience I know that a severe case can take
weeks to go away. My solution was to pay more attention to the bike
'fit' and to use a pair of Specialized Gel Gloves.
Pete Connors

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Helen Deborah Vecht
Archived post

29 June 2007, 14:12 UTC #5

What exactly, anatomically do you mean by 'trap'?
Neither my boyfriend nor I knew which part of the body was numb. Neither
of us has ever used the term to refer to anything apart from the mouth,
which would not fit in this context.
--
Helen D. Vecht: [email hidden]
Edgware.

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Simon Brooke
Archived post

29 June 2007, 16:01 UTC #6

in message <[email hidden]>, Pete Connors
(') said:
Quoted message said:
An other problem, yesterday at the end of my ride, I started feeling
numb in my left hand, and it stayed numb for about 24 hours. This is
probably due to the fact that I didn't have my gloves for the ride.
(or could it be related to the trap pain?)
If the numbness is appearing in the little/ring finger region this is
ulnar nerve palsy. From experience I know that a severe case can take
weeks to go away. My solution was to pay more attention to the bike
'fit' and to use a pair of Specialized Gel Gloves.
This varies. I find Specialized Body Geometry gloves really don't work for
me - they aggravate vibration problems rather than easing them. My
favourite cycling gloves (Rapha Criterium) have really very little padding
at all, but I can ride 100 miles in them without discomfort.
--
[email hidden] (Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/
;; Semper in faecibus sumus, sole profundum variat.

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Email address hidden
Archived post

29 June 2007, 21:15 UTC #7

On Jun 29, 10:12 am, Helen Deborah Vecht <[email hidden]>
Quoted message said:
What exactly, anatomically do you mean by 'trap'?
Neither my boyfriend nor I knew which part of the body was numb. Neither
of us has ever used the term to refer to anything apart from the mouth,
which would not fit in this context.
--
Helen D. Vecht: [email hidden]
Edgware.
Trapezes

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Helen Deborah Vecht
Archived post

29 June 2007, 22:01 UTC #8

[email hidden]
Quoted message said:
Trapezes
Oh! The _trapezius_ muscle in the shoulder, I see.
Have you tried riding without a h*lm*t???
It's important that your handlebars are
1) The correct width for your arms & shoulders.
2) the correct distance from the saddle
3) The correct height
4) Suitably padded
You should always wear gloves IMO but MUST take all the weight off each
hand frequently to prevent nerve damage.
--
Helen D. Vecht: [email hidden]
Edgware.

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Tim Hall
Archived post

3 July 2007, 08:43 UTC #9

On Fri, 29 Jun 2007 17:01:26 +0100, Simon Brooke
<[email hidden]> wrote:
<snip>
Quoted message said:
This varies. I find Specialized Body Geometry gloves really don't work for
me - they aggravate vibration problems rather than easing them. My
favourite cycling gloves (Rapha Criterium) have really very little padding
at all, but I can ride 100 miles in them without discomfort.
Is that because your mind is focused away from any pain and onto the,
ahem, hefty price tag?
Tim

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Simon Brooke
Archived post

3 July 2007, 09:58 UTC #10

in message <[email hidden]>, Tim Hall
(') said:
On Fri, 29 Jun 2007 17:01:26 +0100, Simon Brooke
<[email hidden]> wrote:
<snip>
Quoted message said:
This varies. I find Specialized Body Geometry gloves really don't work
for me - they aggravate vibration problems rather than easing them. My
favourite cycling gloves (Rapha Criterium) have really very little
padding at all, but I can ride 100 miles in them without discomfort.
Is that because your mind is focused away from any pain and onto the,
ahem, hefty price tag?
What price comfort?
Frankly, they're worth every penny.
--
[email hidden] (Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/
Windows 95:
You, you, you! You make a grown man cry...
M. Jagger/K. Richards

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Tim Hall
Archived post

3 July 2007, 12:11 UTC #11

On Tue, 03 Jul 2007 10:58:16 +0100, Simon Brooke
<[email hidden]> wrote:
<Rapha mitts>
Quoted message said:
What price comfort?
Damn right. And with hands it's more than comfort, it's long term
health issues.
Quoted message said:

Frankly, they're worth every penny.
I'm only jealous anyway.
Tim

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Pete Connors
Archived post

3 July 2007, 22:47 UTC #12

Simon Brooke said:
in message <[email hidden]>, Pete Connors
(') said:
Quoted message said:
An other problem, yesterday at the end of my ride, I started feeling
numb in my left hand, and it stayed numb for about 24 hours. This is
probably due to the fact that I didn't have my gloves for the ride.
(or could it be related to the trap pain?)
If the numbness is appearing in the little/ring finger region this is
ulnar nerve palsy. From experience I know that a severe case can take
weeks to go away. My solution was to pay more attention to the bike
'fit' and to use a pair of Specialized Gel Gloves.
This varies. I find Specialized Body Geometry gloves really don't work for
me - they aggravate vibration problems rather than easing them. My
favourite cycling gloves (Rapha Criterium) have really very little padding
at all, but I can ride 100 miles in them without discomfort.
I suspect that your bicycle is very much better set up in the first
place than the ill-considered machine that caused my problems (that's
ill-considered in the sense of 'failing to properly set up first bike
after a 35-year gap' rather than a Bike Hut gaspipe special).
Interestingly, the Specialized Gel gloves don't feel quite as
comfortable on my more carefully tweaked current bicycle.
Pete Connors

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