Question from M. Bandorf, Munich: I've had recurring tendonitis in my left wrist for about a year and a half - probably caused by badminton. The orthopaedist has already given me a bandage with ointment and a hand splint, which has made the pain bearable but not eliminated it. After five days of cycling in a row, the inflammation flared up again, and it's worse on the road bike than on the cross bike, on which I sit more upright. How can I finally get rid of the problem completely?
Expert advice: Hand function is controlled by two muscle groups on the forearm: extensors on the outside and flexors on the inside. The muscle groups are exposed to a field of tension; they are connected to other muscle and connective tissue structures in the body via the shoulder region. If there is an imbalance here, i.e. an imbalance in muscular strength, this leads to overloading at the deflection points - with the typical symptoms of tennis elbow or golfer's elbow. The tendon insertions of the extensors or flexors hurt and radiate, so that the pain is often projected to the wrist. This is why the pre-stretched muscles hurt when cycling, depending on the type of load - the extensors in the upper handlebar position, for example, and the flexors in the lower handlebar position.
As always, it is helpful to change position frequently on the bike and possibly shorten the stem. Otherwise, it is important to reduce the tension in the muscle chains: Train the opposing muscles and reduce imbalances. I also recommend injections with cortisone and Traumeel (a homeopathic complex remedy). Physiotherapeutic measures include stretching and transverse friction according to Cyriax, the application of so-called kinesiotapes (elastic bandages), epipoint bandages or shock wave therapy.
