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Is your commute causing you permanent nerve damage?cobbles.jpg

Is your commute causing you permanent nerve damage?

We look at the dangers of rough roads - and what you can do about them
by Sarah Barth
Sun, Oct 08, 2017 09:06
4

Potholes are not just a danger to your bike - but could also cause permanent nerve damage to you, according to new research.

A study by Edinburgh Napier University discovered that Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome (Havs), caused by uneven surfaces, can become risk after just 16 minutes of riding on the roughest surfaces.

Testing on conditions including cobbles, researchers now hope to develop maps that allow riders to avoid the most dangerous road conditions.

Dr Mark Taylor built a “databike”, which allowed researchers to gauge the level of vibrations using a camera, sensors and computer.

He told the Scotsman: “The minute you get onto a poorly maintained surface you’re getting a substantial duration of vibration exposure that’s being transferred up through your arms and into your shoulders.

“Continued exposure to such vibration levels over commuter journeys may lead to discomfort and potentially cause harm.” A clinical study is planned to prove the link.

Professor Chris Oliver, a consultant trauma orthopaedic hand surgeon at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh who is involved in the research, said: “The vibrations transmitted from some surfaces to cyclists’ hands, arms and wrists can cause Havs.

“This can equate to significant damage to nerves and blood vessels in the arms. It can include numbness in the fingers and cold can trigger painful finger blanching attacks.

“Although some cycle paths and roads are riddled with dangerous potholes, it’s continual vibration over time that’s more significant.”

In the meantime, we’ve recently put together a wishlist of bikes that are using technology to reduce vibrations from the road.

And if you’re not feeling quite so spendy, here are nine ways to make your bike more comfortable.

Health
nerve damage
edinburgh napier university

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4 comments

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Augsburg | 7 years ago
1 like

This issue is for real. I have permanent nerve damage in my feet from using clipless pedals (SPD) for years that caused hotspots on the balls of my feet on long rides.  The repetative trauma to the nerves over many rides can cause neuropathy and/or a neuroma.  Today, I have no feeling in 2/3 of feet, which results in several negative effects.  I've swithched to to large platforms and find they are preferable in many urban riding situations.  I now get the pins and needles tingling in my hands on long rides and make a practice to stop and rest my hands regularly.  

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BehindTheBikesheds replied to Augsburg | 7 years ago
1 like

Augsburg wrote:

This issue is for real. I have permanent nerve damage in my feet from using clipless pedals (SPD) for years that caused hotspots on the balls of my feet on long rides.  The repetative trauma to the nerves over many rides can cause neuropathy and/or a neuroma.  Today, I have no feeling in 2/3 of feet, which results in several negative effects.  I've swithched to to large platforms and find they are preferable in many urban riding situations.  I now get the pins and needles tingling in my hands on long rides and make a practice to stop and rest my hands regularly.  

As a 100kg plus guy that has mostly being a masher and using SPDs since I can't remember (early/mid 90s) I have no such issues. The only time my feet have hurt was when I insisted I could use a pair of silly tight full Carbon shoes that were made for italian feet and other times when I simply had the cleat position wrong.

I know we're all different but have you actually just been using the wrong shoes and/or pedalling with your feet in the wrong position for years?

Things like gripping bars too hard and hand position, not ideal body position putting more pressure on shoulders, hands, arse, feet etc can add up but too many people still end up putting up with stuff for far too long that ends up with damage years later.

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Augsburg replied to BehindTheBikesheds | 7 years ago
1 like

BehindTheBikesheds wrote:

As a 100kg plus guy that has mostly being a masher and using SPDs since I can't remember (early/mid 90s) I have no such issues. The only time my feet have hurt was when I insisted I could use a pair of silly tight full Carbon shoes that were made for italian feet and other times when I simply had the cleat position wrong.

I know we're all different but have you actually just been using the wrong shoes and/or pedalling with your feet in the wrong position for years?

Things like gripping bars too hard and hand position, not ideal body position putting more pressure on shoulders, hands, arse, feet etc can add up but too many people still end up putting up with stuff for far too long that ends up with damage years later.

I'm a big guy too - bigger than you.  Currently, I ride about 100 miles per week.  SPD's concentrate the pedaling force on a small area on the sole of the shoe, and are best for smaller guys, 80 kg or less. True road cleats are larger than SPD's and spread the force out, but I never had any interest in that kind of clippity-clop shoe/cleat combination.  

SPD's are probably just fine for those that are lighter weight and/or live in flat country.  However, I lived in the hilly west coast of the US, with lots of long climbs at 10 to 15% grades.  I rode with several brands of shoes over the years.  I think the issue also has to do with a person's physiology.  There are nerves in the feet and hands that run through narrow passeges.  The nerves may be more easily irritated in some vs. others.  I know lots of people that get hots spots on their feet and numb hands.  If they don't ride a lot, the effects may never become permanent.  

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Yorkshire wallet | 7 years ago
1 like

If I go west from my house I can ride for hours without numbness and pins and needles. Go east into another council's land and it's like I've been on the jackhammer after 30 minutes.

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