If bicycling is your passion, but you're finding yourself saddled with back pain, you may be sitting on the solution. It's very likely to be a simple one, says the British Journal of Sports Medicine -- your bike seat.
The journal says that as many as seven in 10 cyclists suffer from back pain, which takes a considerable amount of enjoyment out of the exercise. Apparently, the angle of the seat is wrong and, without realizing it, cyclists are putting extra pressure on the lower back.
Tests on 40 people suffering from back pain showed a small adjustment of the bicycle seat cured the problem immediately. As a result, within six months all but three were again experiencing pain-free peddling.
Experts say the bike saddles needed adjustment by only 10 to 15 degrees to get the proper angle. The sports journal says the methods used to calculate the correct angle are being distributed to bicycle manufacturers and sales outlets around the world.
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