Scapular pain when cycling

[Bluedan]

I am a keen cyclist. I ride a road bike. I have for a while found that after riding say 20km or more I experience sharp pain in the scapular area but specifically on the right side only. The pain is relatively unnoticed until I turn my head either right or left. Whilst looking straight ahead it is almost unnoticeable. I would describe the area as a few centimeters blew my shoulder blade and a few cm to the right of my spinal column.

I did do a bike fit out with a bike mechanic and he shortened the stem on my bile and raised the handlebars. Initially I thought this helped but it seems not. The fact that the pain is one sided only makes me wonder if I am unconsciously bent to one side.

On one occasion when I had lower back spasms (unconnected to riding) I went to a Chiropractor and he said that the x-rays he took showed that my neck and spine were tilted a bit to one side (I think to the right). I guess not surprising for a 45 year old who sits at a desk (I am a lawyer) and often with poor posture.

I am from Australia but now work in Thailand and doubt whether I could find a specialist cycling physio for advice (I think there are such professionals in Australia).

Any advice would be much appreciated.

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[Canuck Physio]

On one occasion when I had lower back spasms (unconnected to riding) I went to a Chiropractor and he said that the x-rays he took showed that my neck and spine were tilted a bit to one side (I think to the right). I guess not surprising for a 45 year old who sits at a desk (I am a lawyer) and often with poor posture.

I absolutely doubt that this diagnosis is firm. I would have those X-rays analysed by a third party assessor who would examine them in relation to the problems without a monetary expectation related to outcome.

On another note, boy I wish I could treat some people on this forum (interesting cases), particularly because I am a muscle and balance kind of therapist. Unless you have had significant trauma (or even if you haven't), much of your issues could be rectified by posture analysis, muscle length shortening analysis, or muscle patterning examination.

i do not disagree that you may have poor posture, however if you can correct your posture (look in a mirror) it is more than likely that you have muscle problems concomitantly. Bony remodelling, stiffness, and ultimately arthrofixation (stuck in one posture - as I like to call it) occurs over a long time and usually to damaged immobile joints, or in elderly in static postures. So your problems should be correctable with some good help[-

[ROMinclinometer]

Hello Bluedan,

Keen cyclist here as well. Road cycling is a tough position for the body over extended periods of time. The neck extension from the cycling position was a source pain for me.
Neuromuscular Massage and general strength training helped me relieve my upper back and neck pain. Of course fit and position on the bike is paramount, and you have addressed that aspect.

Lower back pain is very common with cyclists. The riding position, again, causes problems with tight and shortened hip flexors which stresses the low back. Then, sitting in office chairs all day just compounds the problem.
I have helped my low back pain associated with cycling, through core strength training, stretching the hip flexors and again, massage.

Good luck! Keep on riding!