Why the study?
Do electrodiagnostic studies correlate with hand or wrist numbness and pain in long-distance cyclists?
Do electrodiagnostic studies correlate with hand or wrist numbness and pain in long-distance cyclists?
Hand and wrist symptoms in long-distance cyclists are common but not associated with abnormal electrodiagnostic findings, and can often be managed with technique and equipment adjustments.
Hand symptoms in long-distance cyclists may not indicate detectable neuropathy; hypothesis-generating and requires prospective validation before changing diagnostic practice.
In brief: Twenty long-distance cyclists (13 men, 7 women) completed a questionnaire and underwent a neurologic examination and electrodiagnostic studies of the median and ulnar nerves. The purpose was to determine the frequency, severity, and clinical significance of numbness or pain in the hand or wrist and to assess the correlation of electrodiagnostic findings with these complaints. Results of the studies were normal for all 20 cyclists, nine of whom reported symptoms. These cyclists attributed their discomfort to prolonged riding without changing hand position, especially on rough road surfaces. They also reported that their symptoms diminished after they modified their cycling technique and adjusted their bicycle to better fit their body dimensions.
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David Jackson (1989) studied this question.
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