Has anyone else experienced backpain after riding regularly? It was the reason I
kind of stopped riding. It seemed the quick turns and idling caused it.
Tim ‘Uni’s broken but learning to juggle in the mean time’ Wilson Massey Univ
New Zealand
Re: Back pain
In a message dated 95-09-08 06:35:06 EDT, you write:
T.Wilson@massey.ac.nz wrote:
>
>Has anyone else experienced backpain after riding regularly? It was the reason
>I kind of stopped riding. It seemed the quick turns and idling caused it.
I remember an article my Mom clipped from a newspaper back in my early days of
unicycling (early 80’s). It was about “Unicyclists Sciatica.” I probably spelled
that wrong, but it was an article about lower back pain related to unusual job
stress. Some clown performer had reported this problem and they gave it a clever
name so it could compete with “Tennis Elbow” and other horrible diseases.
The clown in question was probably riding with a too-low seat, and bad posture.
If anything, riding a unicycle is good for the back, improves posture, and
strengthens lower back and abdominal muscles.
If you are experiencing lower back pain, it may relate to a low seat, a
bent-forward riding posture, or a combination of the two.
Adjust your seat height so that your leg is nearly straight with the pedal at
the bottom of the stroke. When riding normally, your spine should be roughly
parallel to the unicycle’s seat post and fork. In other words, you should be
sitting up straight. If these positions feel unnatural to you, give them time
because you may have to get used to them. They do work.
Try out the above advice, along with the other advice yo’ve been given, and let
us know your results.
Stay on Top! John Foss, the Uni-Cyclone unicycle@aol.com
Re: Back pain
>I believe they called it “Bozo’s disease”. At least that’s what I can remember
>my parents calling it–but I believe the ailment they described was the
>pressure on the pelvic or “crotch” area, creating numbness in the legs, etc. My
>Dad would joke that all the friction and heat I was generating “down there”
>would make me sterile–sure enough, an article or show appeared shortly after
>that, describing a similar affliction among hard-core bicyclists!!! Any
>unicyclists out there have any problems reproducing! (I’ve got one kid and
>where planning for more, so my Dad’s predictions have ceased…)
>
I have read this, Bozo’s syndrome it was reffered too it the article I read. I
been unicycling some 14 years, I haven’t been tested for fertility (haven’t
accidently had kids either!) but if I do have a test which has been my intention
for years, I’ll post my results for statistics sake! 
- Earth name: Ross Mackintosh * Email: romack@midland.co.nz *
- Phone: (07) 839 9005 * Batfone: (025) 761 141 * Fax: (07) 839 9006 *
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Re: Back pain
T.Wilson@massey.ac.nz writes:
>Has anyone else experienced backpain after riding regularly? It was the reason
>I kind of stopped riding. It seemed the quick turns and idling caused it.
Interesting… I have found that unicycling has helped build up my abdominal
muscles, giving me better posture, rather than back pain.
Could it be that you are arching your back when you ride? I used to do this
unconsciously on my motorcycle, and I’d hurt after a long ride.
Mark
Re: Back pain
<Unicycle@aol.com> writes:
>I remember an article my Mom clipped from a newspaper back in my early days of
>unicycling (early 80’s). It was about “Unicyclists Sciatica.” I probably
>spelled that wrong, but it was an article about lower back pain related to
>unusual job stress. Some clown performer had reported this problem and they
>gave it a clever name so it could compete with “Tennis Elbow” and other
>horrible diseases.
I believe they called it “Bozo’s disease”. At least that’s what I can remember
my parents calling it–but I believe the ailment they described was the pressure
on the pelvic or “crotch” area, creating numbness in the legs, etc. My Dad would
joke that all the friction and heat I was generating “down there” would make me
sterile–sure enough, an article or show appeared shortly after that, describing
a similar affliction among hard-core bicyclists!!! Any unicyclists out there
have any problems reproducing! (I’ve got one kid and where planning for more, so
my Dad’s predictions have ceased…)
ride on,
David Winston winstond@delphi.com
Re: Back pain
Unicycling uses a few muscles that probably don’t normally get exercised. Much
of the soreness in new riders is due to the fatigue caused by excess muscle
tension. I have assisted people who seem to have every muscle in their body
tensed for maximum control. After more experience one learns to ride in a more
relaxed fashion.
One should sit up straight on a unicycle and not be hunched over.
Old farts like me need to stretch our muscles before doing anything difficult. I
usually ride a few minutes gradually increasing my speed to warm up. Then I
spend a few minutes stretching my legs, back, knees, and neck.
I also believe a seat that is too low will lead to an unnatural body position
and make turning harder thus forcing your muscles to work harder…
Bill Gilbertson