Top 5 Mountain Biking Injuries
- Cuts and grazes
- Broken Collar Bone
- AC Joint sprain or Separation
- Knee Pain
- Back Pain
AC joint injuries are one of the most common injuries. They occur when land on the scapula or back of the shoulder, on landing the thrust of momentum pushes the scapula towards the anterior causing stretching or tearing of the ligaments which attach to the clavicle. The injury is graded in severity and can require surgery in the extreme cases. Robyn has separation of this joint
Remember Crazy Fact:
Your entire upper limb ( you arm, scapula and clavicle) is only attached to the rest of your skeleton by one small joint – sterno-clavicular joint. No other bones in your upper limb have contact with the rest of the skeleton.
The little green joint in the diagram is where your entire arm is attached to the rest of your skeleton. Robyn has a fracture of the humerus (top of arm bone)
With an AC injury you would have to isolate the entire upper limb from movement – hence a sling.
Recovery tome depends on severity.
Professional athletes are often on stationary trainers within a week or two the injury.
Image R. De Groot http://robyndegroot.com/
