Rapid City has seen some surprisingly warm days recently. It’s easy to get lulled into a false sense of spring and for many, that means breaking out their motorcycles a little early in the season.
Everyone in the Black Hills needs to be mindful of motorcyclists sharing our roads on any day above 50 degrees. Recently, a young firefighter was involved in a vehicle collision in the Gap while riding his motorcycle. We want to extend our well-wishes to Robert Rendon and hope for the very best for his continued recovery.
The months that your bike is in the garage should not only be spent prepping the motorcycle for its next ride, you should be prepping too! Did you know that chiropractic care can make you a better motorcycle rider?
Motorcyclists often experience injuries (and pain) associated with riding. Have you ever really examined how your body moves while you’re on your bike? When you are sedentary this can often lead to lower back pain.
Some good tips to help avoid aches and pains while riding:
- Maintain good posture! There’s a tendency to slouch or roll the back on a bike. There are 3 basic postures for motorcyclists, depending on the bike design and the size of its operator:
Standard: Neutral posture with straight back. Shoulders and elbows do not overextend. Shoulders neutral – do not lean forward too much! This is the ideal posture for good spinal health.
Sport: Body in a forward lean, feet behind the knees and head in extension. Forearms should be parallel to the ground. This posture is ideally suited to high speeds. There is a risk of damage to the wrists and possibility of headaches.
Cruiser: Mild recline position, feet slightly forward of knees. Head is upright and neutral, hips are relaxed and legs are held close to the fuel tank. At high speeds there is a risk of increased air pressure at the chest, leading the operator to lean forward. This can create muscle fatigue.
Secondly, Rushmore Family Chiropractic recommends taking significant stretch breaks during your ride, particularly if you are on a long-distance ride or on a variety of terrains. For every hour of ride, you need approximately 15 minutes of deep stretching.
Third, keep hydrated. Yes, this means you’ll need to make more pit stops but you need those periods to stretch anyway. Hydration lubricates the body and makes it more flexible. Water also helps decrease pain in the joints, bones and muscles of the body.
And lastly, come in for an adjustment before you hit the road for your first ride of the season. Maintaining good posture is critical to help not only keep you more comfortable while riding, but also helps to strengthen your reflexes.
Rushmore Family Chiropractic wants everyone to enjoy those motorcycle rides. We are looking forward to springtime and warmer weather and we promise to stay alert for those who share our roads on two wheels!
