Rider Back Pain

I assess and treat a lot of riders who experience back pain when riding. Probably the most common back pain issue I assess in riders is pain in the sacroiliac joint area. ⁣

Movement at the sacroiliac joint is minimal and it cannot move “out of place”. It’s main role is to transfer load and force from the legs to the spine and vice versa.⁣

The sacroiliac joint is well muscled and has strong ligaments on the back side of it but less so at the front. ⁣

Since muscles work in groups, the back must work harder if the front is under performing. ⁣

The main muscle acting on the front side is the psoas muscle. If this is underperforming many issues can occur, including over compression at the posterior aspect of the sacroiliac joint. ⁣

Many riders will point specifically to this area when describing their pain, sometimes on one side but often both sides. In all these riders the psoas muscle is WEAK. ⁣

Riders often report feeling tight in their hip flexors but when specifically tested they aren’t shortened, they are just weak. We can stretch the psoas (hip flexor) until the cows come home but it rarely makes a difference. We need to strengthen it!! ⁣

The Activate Your Seat exercise programme done against the resistance of the bungi specifically targets psoas and the other main muscles of the seat, improving strength, suppleness, and endurance in these muscles. ⁣

Want to learn more about common rider back pain issues, anatomy of the spine, what serious things to look out for, and how to help your back? ⁣

Join myself and Trauma Consultant Dr Diane in the Rider Clinic live on All_the_kings_horses_ Facebook page tonight at 7.30pm GMT where we’ll discuss all things back pain in horse riders. ⁣

Breathe better, move better, ride better ⁣

Maeve ⁣