I Have Lower Back Pain When Cycling and It Gets Worse on Longer Rides

Lower back pain when cycling can build as your ride gets longer because repeated time in the riding position can leave your back increasingly stiff and painful.

You may start a ride feeling fine and then notice your lower back becoming tight after you have been on the bike for a while. As the miles add up, the discomfort can change from something you barely notice into a steady ache that makes it harder to stay comfortable on the bike.

You may also notice that getting out of the riding position feels especially good once the ride ends. If your back remains sore or stiff afterward, another long ride before it has settled down can bring the same problem back sooner.

Your Lower Back Tightens As The Ride Gets Longer

The pain may begin as a mild tightness and build into a deeper ache during the ride.

You might feel fine during the first part of your ride, then notice your lower back tightening as you keep pedaling. Staying bent forward over the bike for a long period can make the stiffness more noticeable, especially when your back is already tired or restricted.

Your Lower Back Stays Sore After A Long Ride

The discomfort may remain after you get off the bike instead of disappearing as soon as the ride ends.

You may feel stiff when you first stand up or notice that straightening your back takes a moment. When that soreness carries into the rest of the day, your next ride may begin before your back has had enough time to settle down.

Why Your Lower Back Pain Gets Worse On Longer Rides

Your lower back has a hard time healing when blood flow and circulation are limited.

Tendons, ligaments, and other soft tissues naturally receive less blood supply than many other parts of the body. Because of this, they often take longer to heal after repeated stress or injury, leaving you more vulnerable to lingering pain and a cycle of reinjury.

When circulation through the area remains limited, injured tissues have a harder time receiving the vital oxygen and nutrients they need to repair and heal. This can leave your lower back feeling stiff, tight, weak, or painful during everyday movement and activity.

What Can Help Your Lower Back Feel Better

Your lower back starts feeling better when blood flow and circulation improve.

Chinese herbs have been used for centuries to promote healthy blood flow and circulation. Their medicinal properties help break up stagnant blood and fluids that remain trapped around injured tissues, interfering with circulation. As circulation improves, blood flows more freely through the area, allowing those tissues to receive the oxygen and nutrients they need to heal properly.

Topical herbal remedies made with these Chinese herbs can help relieve pain while improving blood flow and circulation to injured tissues. The right product depends on your symptoms and whether you're in the acute or chronic stage of recovery.

If you have pain, swelling, inflammation, or bruising, Acute Sinew Liniment helps relieve these symptoms by increasing circulation and dispersing stagnant blood and fluids around the injured area to speed recovery. During the acute stage of healing, getting circulation moving early allows injured tissues to receive the fresh blood, oxygen, and nutrients they need to repair and heal.

If your injured area is especially swollen, red, or warm to the touch after a recent injury or flare-up, Sinew Herbal Ice is also used to reduce swelling and inflammation while restoring normal circulation so you can quickly regain range of motion. While traditional ice is commonly used to reduce swelling, Sinew Herbal Ice acts as an ice alternative to reduce swelling and inflammation while also dispersing accumulated blood and fluids to speed the healing process.

If you no longer have swelling or inflammation, but still have pain, stiffness, weakness, or sensitivity in cold and damp weather, Chronic Sinew Liniment helps relieve these symptoms by strongly stimulating circulation and increasing blood supply to injured tendons and ligaments to promote their healing. This is especially important because tendons and ligaments naturally receive less blood supply, which is why chronic injuries can take longer to heal.

If you have residual pain and stiffness, or the area becomes more painful in cold weather, Sinew Injury Poultice is also used to significantly stimulate circulation to injured tendons and ligaments to further promote their healing. By strongly increasing circulation, it counteracts the reduced blood flow caused by cold weather that commonly aggravates chronic tendon and ligament injuries.

If you exercise, play sports, or do other strenuous activities, Sinew Sports Massage Oil warms and stimulates muscles for exertion and relieves muscle tightness and soreness after activity. Warming and preparing your muscles before activity can improve flexibility, enhance performance, and reduce the risk of injury.

Frequently Asked Questions

You may also find these commonly asked questions helpful.

Why does my lower back hurt when cycling?

Your lower back may hurt during cycling because staying in the riding position for a long time can leave your back tight, stiff, or strained.

Why does my lower back pain get worse on longer rides?

Your lower back may become more painful as the ride continues because prolonged positioning and repeated pedaling keep stressing the area.

Why does my lower back hurt after a long bike ride?

Your back may remain sore after a long ride because the muscles and other tissues have been stressed repeatedly and need time to recover.

Can cycling make lower back stiffness worse?

Yes. Long periods in the same riding position can make existing lower back stiffness more noticeable, especially as the ride continues.

Should I keep cycling if my lower back hurts?

If cycling consistently increases your lower back pain, reducing the activity and allowing the area to recover can help prevent the problem from becoming more persistent.

The information provided here is intended to help you better understand your symptoms and recovery, but it is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

Persistent, severe, or worsening symptoms should be evaluated by a qualified healthcare professional.