Types and incidence. Most crashes result in only minor injuries such as abrasions, contusions, and lacerations. The majority of fractures occur to the upper extremity and most commonly involve the fingers, metacarpals, wrist, and radial head. The shoulder is particularly vulnerable to injury. Clavicle fractures and acromioclavicular separations commonly occur when a cyclist falls and lands on the shoulder.
Shoulder dislocations can occur if the cyclist's arm is raised during a forward fall.
A number of factors contribute to acute injuries. To prevent injuries, the importance of bicycle maintenance, bike-handling skills, and common sense cannot be overemphasized. Other protective gear, such as chest, shoulder, and extremity padding, is also used by many downhill cyclists. Overuse Injuries Like other cyclists, mountain bikers can suffer overuse injuries. Overuse injuries in off-road cyclists are related to interactions between the cyclist's body, the bicycle, and the terrain on which they ride.