Women's Perineal Symptoms and Long Distance Cycling
Sunday, 10th October 2004
Some female cyclists experience problems with numbness, pain or even difficulty urinating. The following article looks at the problem of numbness in female cyclists during a long distance cycling event and the effect of ergonomic cycle seats in alleviating these symptoms. TriSportNews is dedicated to bringing information that is specific to women athletes and we feel the following article is definately worthwhile information when considering female specicfic saddles.
Studies at Stanford University Medical Centre and field studies such as the type in this article have been presented at scientific conferences and are now part of the standard medical literature on saddle-induced cycling problems in men and women.
Article by Kessler, R., Breedlove, R, McCullough L, A.Angelsen, Minkow, R.
Objectives
To assess the frequency of perineal symptoms of numbness, pain, and difficulty urinating in female bicyclists during a long distance cycling event and to study the effect of ergonomic cycle seats in alleviating these symptoms.
Methods
11 female riders, participating in the San Francisco - Los Angeles AIDS benefit ride who suffered from perineal symptoms of numbness, pain, and urinary dysfunction, were given questionnaires on day three and four of a seven day ride (riders averaged 280 miles prior to receiving the ergonomic bike seats). The average age of the riders was 33.4 years. Two riders were smokers. There were no other riders with predisposing risk factors of diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or neurologic disease. All riders were questionned about medications. Riders were referred to this study by the medical personnel after complaining of the above symptoms. Each rider was given one of two models of a new type bicycle seats at random (Body Geometry (BG) Sport and Body Geometry (BG) Comfort seats by Specialized). Each rider used the products for the remaining three or four days, averaging 275 miles on the new products. Follow-up questionnaires were sent to each rider as well as phone followup for riders who failed to respond. 90.9% of riders responded to follow-up.
Results
10 riders responded to follow-up. 4 were given Body Geometry sport seats and 7 were given Body Geometry comfort seats. The incidence of numbness in the perineum prior to receiving the new seats was 82% (9 riders), pain in the perineum 82% (9 riders) and difficulty urinating 27% (3 riders). There was no substantial difference in results between the two seats, so the results are combined.
Following the introduction of the new saddles, the incidence of numbness, pain, and difficulty urinating was 0%. This represents statistical significance of reduction of numbness (p=.0002), pain (p=.0002) and difficulty urinating (p=.081).
Conclusion
While men's symptoms related to cycling have been documented in the medical literature since 1974, there have been no reports of female cycling related problems until the American Urological Association meeting in 1999.
This study represents a small number of riders but with statistically significant evidence that ergonomically designed bicycle saddles can reduce the incidence of symptoms in female riders. Further study using different riding styles and situations needs to be performed.
This article was kindly provided by Specialized UK and for further information on the Specialized's Body Geometry range for women see our Tech Articles page for our ongoing review of the Specialized Dolce and the Dolce Ti saddles.