From: frobasky@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (Frank Robasky)
Subject: Numbness during extended bicycling & other overuse injuries
Organization: The Ohio State University
Date: Fri, 24 Jul 1992 19:37:09 GMT

I'm currently working on a M.S. thesis directed at non-traumatic injuries
in bicycling, and the discussion on hand numbness caught my eye.  This is
what I have to contribute:

There seems to be precious little research done in this area, clinical or
otherwise.  However, there are a few experts, and they tend to publish
there comments mostly in Bicycling Magazine.  If anyone has any other
significant sources or papers, I'd love to hear from you.

The clinical term for this "hand numbness" is parasthesia, or handlebar
neuropathy.  A study by Barry Weiss (funded by Bicycling Magazine) reported
that nearly 10% of all riders on a 500 mile ride complained of significant
problems with their hands.  64.1% of those reported parasthesias.  Thus, 
you are not alone if you have tthis problem.  Dr. Thomas Dickson ["Preventing
Overuse Injuries".  Phys Spts Med.  13:10 116-123] recommends
frequent changes in hand position and use of padded grips to alleviate this
problem.  I would suggest raising your handlebars to reduce pressure on your
hands (but then you increase pressure on you buttocks and groin, and we
get into a whole new area of problems).  For more information on this
and related problems, refer to the following references:

Eckman, P.B., Perlstein, G. Altrocchi, P.H., "Ulnar neuropathy in bicycle
riders".  Arch. Neurol. 32: 130-131, 1975.

Finelli, P. F., "Handlebar Palsy".  N Engl. J. Med. 292: 702. 1975.

Hoyt, C. S., "Ulnar neuropathy in Bicycle Riders".  Arch. Neurol.  33: 372.
1976.

(Courtesy of Dr. Weiss' paper, "Nontraumatic injuries in amateur long
distance bicyclists".  Am Orthop Soc Spts Med.  13: 187-192.  1985).

It would seem intuitive that the use of aerobars would reduce the pressure
on the palm that causes this affliction.  Be advised, though, that you
may introduce other problems with this kind of dramatic change in your
riding posture.  Who was the professional racer that I read about in
Bicycling that set his seat forward 2cm to emulate LeMond's position and
would up decapacitating himself for 6 months with a back injury?  I have
not seen much scientific research on the ergonomics of aerobars, but from
working in one of the top laboratories for LBP [Lower Back Pain] - the OSU
Biodynamics Lab, dir. Bill Marras- I can tell you that the position that
the aerobars forces you to assume can probably do some nasty things to
your spine - there's a recent article in bicycling about bicycling back
injuries, too, if you care to look it up.  Personally, I'd take a little
hand numbness over chronic LBP any day.  This is, due to the lack of research,
a hot bed of controversy, and I'd love to hear from anyone who has other
ideas - I will summarize and post.

Handlebar neuropathy is certainly not the only non-traumatic injury bicyclists
suffer from.  Do you experience numbness of the groin or appendages after
a long ride?  Low back pain? Medial or lateral knee soreness?  Patellar pain?
Do you hear a "snapping sound" accompanied with pain as you flex and extend
your knee?  Tell me all about it!!  I'd love to hear from you.  If I recieve
sufficient response, I'll compile the responses and post.


Kim Robasky, B.S. Computer Science
	     M.S. Biomedical Engineering (in progress)
GRA, Ohio State University Biodynamics Lab