As a relatively fit 41 year old, I suffer from constant lower back pain and was wondering if it may be related to riding the bike ??
There are two areas, the lower back and below the shoulder blades in the middle.
Although I haven't ridden the Tiger much this year (apart from 3000 miles round Europe), I have been on a Honda CB500 a good few times a week while Motorcycle Instructing.
Anyone else suffer, or am I just getting old and dropping to bits
Evening to you, not so sure about the getting old part, as a probably less than reasonably fit 34 year old, I find that a half hour stretching session works pretty good before setting off on a journey, long or otherwise. And when you stop for fuel / cigarette / coffee etc, another wee stretching does wonders.....and gives the regular folk watching something to talk about!
There's a relevant article in "Motorcycle Cruiser" magazine this month. You may want to check it out. It indicated that: motorcyclists often ride with a slumped posture; cruiser and upright motorcycles sometimes result in back and shoulder aches if we're not careful to sit up straight while riding; sport bikes can lead to neck pain from "looking up all the time"; and that stretching is indeed helpful. Notice your typical riding position/posture the next time you ride past a picture window in which you can see your reflection. It could tell the tale of which muscles (i.e., front or back) are being stretched and which ones aren't. Also, be cognizant of your posture and whether you are sitting up somewhat straight. Something that I've found helpful, as well, has been to change positions temporarily, i.e. by utilizing my rear footpegs sometimes. It results in my arms and shoulders having a chance to be more relaxed. This might be more feasible on your CB500 than on your Tiger, I suppose.
I have a bad back(L4, L5 disks) but never had problems from riding. You may want to watch your posture as LJ stated. As to the pain in between the shoulder blades-it's pretty common. I turned my handlebars toward me a 1/2" and it helped a bit. Also, change your riding position foward and back to relieve some of the pain. When I'm going on a long ride, I take 2 Aleve's in advance!
As a relatively fit 41 year old, I suffer from constant lower back pain and was wondering if it may be related to riding the bike ??
There are two areas, the lower back and below the shoulder blades in the middle.
.......
Anyone else suffer, or am I just getting old and dropping to bits
Wait till you get to my age and you'll know what getting older feels like!
I have fairly constant low-level back pain but rarely incapacitating: I find that riding doesn't affect it too much but the Tiger does give me some pain between the shoulder blades. The Velo on the other hand gives me a crick in the neck due to the lowish bars and generally compact position.
I used to happily do back to back 350 mile days on my Norton Commando 10 years ago or so but start to tire after a couple of hundred these days.
I've found that tailoring the Tiger to me (lowering the whole plot, fitting Buell footrests, bar risers) helps but doesn't solve the problems completely.
Bad posture can agravate lower back pain. I'm not as slim as I used to be (OK, so I'm fat) and used to suffer frequent lower back stiffness, sometimes developing into awful sciatica. Since I learnt how to hold my gut in properly and build up the muscles around the pelvic area, I don't suffer too badly.
I was starting to suffer while riding a few years ago (late forties.) Mostly neck/upper back, but sometimes lower.
I started visiting a local gym 3~4 times a week in an effort to build up the muscle tissue around my bones. It sucks, I don't like working out, but regular exercise has made a big difference in riding comfort.
Helps me keep up with the young gal I live with too.
I agree with 2manyhobbies....I'm 42 and about 8 years ago, was involved in a rear-end collision, which resulted in severe lower back pain. Chiropractor and massage helped. The chiro. told me that strong abs were the key to reduce and/or eliminate lower back pain. He was right. Once I stop working out, the pain in my back starts. They gym is the key for me!
I know it sounds daft... Make sure you're not getting a draft down/up your jacket!
When i turned 40 I stopped using old scarves and bought a 'proper' motorcycle windstopper thing for my neck, chest and shoulders. Worked wonders for comfort and i'm sure a lot of them aches and pains are gone too, especially between my shoulder blades.
I think the pain across the shoulders is due to riding the Tiger and stretching out forward for those big wide bars.
As for the lower back pain - I'm in the Fire Service, cycle to and from work, use the rowing machine every shift and work out in the Station gym every shift, so I'm relatively fit.
That might have something to do with it, but riding a bike for long hours most days as well has got to take it's toll.
If I were you I'd book a session with an osteopath. All my aches and pains down my back have come about from past injuries. A slight misalignment can set up a muscle spasm which causes the pain.
Personally I'd run (well hobble) a mile to get away from an osteopath. Many years ago I had severe lower back pain from clumsily changing suspension units on a car. I foolishly followed advice to go to an osteopath (with all the "qualifications") and ended up with a slipped disc. Charlatans IMO - and of course not professionally regulated in any way.
I hear you! 40 myself. Workout 3 times a week, weights and aerobics.....scuba dive, bicycle and stretch......however, STILL, had the "knife" up under the shoulders after 45 min or so in the saddle.
Changing windsheilds helped. Buffeting put strain on my neck and shoulders.
Also playing with the bar adjustment has helped as well. Now I can go about 1.5 hours before I "feel" it. Ordering a 1" riser, maybe that will help.
Also, on long trips I wear a weight belt under my jacket (keeps ky spine upright) helps as well.
Best of luck. Let me know if any of this helps you.
I can generally ride my upright bikes without issue as long as I don't strain lifting off the sidestand. I've screwed up lifting heavy bikes like Guzzis off the sidestand, but the Thunderbird isn't generally an issue.
I has an RS Bmw that would kill me, so leaning over isn't a good thing for bad backs.
I suspect that cruiser seating that arches the spine is just as bad.
A trip the a chiropractor is a good thing if for nothing more than education and finding the correct stretches and exercises to do.
I fall into the above age bracket and also suffer lower back pain. I am very active lots of walking and yoga but put the blame on previous accidents and falls. Pulling bikes onto a center stand does not help matters.
I wear a kidney belt when riding for long distances and this has helped me arrive after eight hours riding with no discomfort at all in the lower back but still have the tight shoulder syndrome. Maybe should consider wearing a bra!!
I had a lot of back pain in my late 40's and early 50's. I have damage to some vertebrae in my lower back and a couple in my neck. I read a book by a doctor in New York City, and he said 95% of all back pain is due to the sub-conscious mind. Vertebrae problems cause numbness, not pain. I was in a very stressful job, and after completely reading the book...I have had no back pain since.
He also said in the book that the advent of back pain came after strong medicines were effective in curbing stomach ulcers (which he also attributed to the sub-conscious mind). I would post the name of the book, but I loaned it to someone a few years back and haven't seen it since.
I've got a bad back bulging disk and some other crap in the lower part. Been through physical therapy and chiropractic, both helped, but Yoga fixed my back issues. It's basically slow stretching and strengthening of all your muscles, back arms legs everything.
Find a good beginner class that you're comfortable in, the one I go to is called Yoga for the Stiff Guy.
Except I'm a lot older, you and I have the same issues - CB500 ( twinshock - brilliant bike ), and Tiger - mine's a 955i . It isn't the bikes, it is sitting at this damn computer that is wrecking my spine !!
Just a thought for you - I picked up my Tiger XC used a couple of weeks ago. I rode it as set up by the PO for a while, then decided to roll the bars a bit more forward, which I assume would be the stock position. Went for a ride and in the first 10 minutes was having back pain. Came home, rolled the bars back, which took them from the top line to the next long line (maybe 1/8 - 3/16") and voila! pain gone. I think that tiny bit more of stretching to reach the bars raised my shoulders and put pressure on my back. Something to try, anyway.
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