Outdoor Classroom: Solutions for numb fingers after long cycling

Many riders (including me) feel numb fingers on the long-term bike ride. In particular, the ring finger and the little finger do not even straighten out. This is actually a case of a scientific name called ulnar nerve compression syndrome. It is simply a result of improper posture or hand force, which is a part of nerve damage.

The main clinical manifestations and signs are as follows:

(1) history of trauma, history of strain, long-term stimulation of cold and dampness

(2) Weakness or pain in the wrist and fingers, sensory abnormality in the distribution area of ​​the ulnar nerve superficial branches in the hand, hypothenar atrophy, etc.

(3) soft tissue tenderness between the pea bone and the hook, soft tissue degeneration hard

(4) Special examinations: 1 positive paper test 2 strong wrist or wrist extension can cause wrist pain and little finger pain, numbness 3 sniper test or Tinel's sign positive 4 resistance test positive 5 claw finger deformity.

Of course, there are also serious or not serious points. How can they be considered serious?

If you feel pain in your fingers before going to bed at night or on the way to bed, you are already considered to have serious symptoms. If you are just numb fingers, if you don't get better for a long time, your nerves will shrink and your fingers will become deformed. Therefore, this kind of illness is still very dangerous for our riders, but it affects the daily life, and the fingers are deformed. The consequences can be imagined.

Here are some precautionary measures I will take:

(1) Pay attention to adjusting the height of the seat. If the seat height is too high, most of the weight of the upper part of the body will be placed on the wrist. This kind of long-term riding will lead to more damage to the wrist nerve. Don't set the seat too high.

(2) Increase the number of breaks or vices to avoid keeping a position for a long time during riding.

(3) Relax wrists properly while riding so that the wrist nerves are properly rested

(4) Wear a good riding glove with cushioning effect. (Especially on bumpy roads, the nerves are in a state of prolonged tension and are violently oscillating and are easily injured.)

If some riders already have this kind of symptom, they need to be treated promptly. The treatment methods are as follows:

(1) Under extremely mild conditions, the hands can be soaked in warm water to relax, and if not improved within a week, the second point is selected.

(2) Take "Methylcobalamin Tablets", which can be purchased by major pharmacies. This is a vitamin B12 supplement. Its main adaptive symptoms are neuropathy in various parts of the body. The actual composition is coenzyme B12. The specific pharmacology is no more instructions, you can refer to the manual, and you still have no symptoms after one month. , choose the third point.

(3) Severe persons can seek medical treatment in time and can undergo physiotherapy in the hospital. If there is still no effect, surgery in this area is required.

(In addition, if you have this kind of symptom, you must immediately stop cycling and long-term pressure on your wrist.)

Editor: Zhao Hao