Knots in your shoulder

[clonak]

Does anyone else get knots in thier shoulder after big rides ? I find anything over about 1.5hrs and my should is stinging like hell. I know I do have bad posture, and I am trying to correct it, but its one more thing to constantly think about while I am riding, so end up slouched again after awhile. And I do have a tendancy to be quite tence, always have.

I have noticed it more since I have been riding a sports bike again, the GZ wasnt too bad because you are more in a normal seating position, I am just way to tall for it. But the sports bike position is killer on the back. Would tank grip pads help, because I keep sliding forward on the seat, and think that might be one of the reasons I end up slouching alot as well, If I could keep closer to the back of the seat, its alot more comfortable position, but short of squeezing my legs really hard into the tank(which I still end up sliding anyway, and get really sore legs), I just keep sliding forward.

Also, any tips on getting the knots out, I know the tenis ball trick and it works alright. But doesnt really go away for ages.

[nodrog:Me]

Whats the tennis ball trick? I hav heard of the ping pong ball trick.but i think they might be different.

[clonak]

Yeah, nah. I havent had to use the ping pong ball trick since I was like 5. My parents just gave up and delt with the fact I am a male and always going to be a bad aim.

lean backwards into a wall and place a tenis ball where the knot is, hold it untill the paid subsides and release. Its suppose to help blood flow.

[munster]

I find dropping my elbows (not quite relaxing, but almost) and I get almost no stiffness / pain after a long ride. Used to get awful pain between my shoulder blades, but since learning to drop my elbows, I'm all good. Done a few long trips since, Napier, Wellington etc.

Does take a bit of concious thought, but it's almost automatic now.

Yeah, nah. I havent had to use the ping pong ball trick since I was like 5. My parents just gave up and delt with the fact I am a male and always going to be a bad aim.

Somehow I suspect that wasn't the Ping Pong trick nodrog was referring too. View "Priscilla Queen of the Desert" for a reference.

[clonak]

I find dropping my elbows (not quite relaxing, but almost) and I get almost no stiffness / pain after a long ride. Used to get awful pain between my shoulder blades, but since learning to drop my elbows, I'm all good. Done a few long trips since, Napier, Wellington etc.

Does take a bit of concious thought, but it's almost automatic now.

Yeah, I try to do tihngs like that, but does take alot of thinking about, after years of being in a certain type of posture. I suppose I just have to keep at it, eventually I will get there.

Somehow I suspect that wasn't the Ping Pong trick nodrog was referring too. View "Priscilla Queen of the Desert" for a reference.

Yeah, nah... I have avoided watching that movie since it was made. I remember when it first came out, I was scared of it, and I could happily watch Jaws....

[ducatilover]

Whats the tennis ball trick? I hav heard of the ping pong ball trick.but i think they might be different.

I prefecr a cricket ball

I'd like to know a magic cure for knots, I get one in my left shoulder after lots of PC use and piano playing.
I get 'em on the Kawasaki, but it's an uncomfotable prick anyway

[GrayWolf]

to the OP..welcome to sprotbike ownership

My ex wife is a Physio, best 'relief' for them is correct stretching and/or deep tissue massage... it hurts like a bastard.. but it does release the 'spasm'. DAMHIK

[Banditbandit]

Does anyone else get knots in thier shoulder after big rides ?

Never ...

I find anything over about 1.5hrs and my should is stinging like hell. I know I do have bad posture, and I am trying to correct it, but its one more thing to constantly think about while I am riding, so end up slouched again after awhile. And I do have a tendancy to be quite tence, always have.

You're on the wrong bike ...

I have noticed it more since I have been riding a sports bike again, the GZ wasnt too bad because you are more in a normal seating position, I am just way to tall for it. But the sports bike position is killer on the back. Would tank grip pads help, because I keep sliding forward on the seat, and think that might be one of the reasons I end up slouching alot as well, If I could keep closer to the back of the seat, its alot more comfortable position, but short of squeezing my legs really hard into the tank(which I still end up sliding anyway, and get really sore legs), I just keep sliding forward.

Huh? I only slide forward if I brake really hard ... try using the turny thing under your right hand. (you're on the wrong bike)

Also, any tips on getting the knots out, I know the tenis ball trick and it works alright. But doesnt really go away for ages.

SEX ... good for any body problems ... (works for me anyway ...)

[Hoon]

Do you rest all your weight forward on your arms? Strengthening your core would help keep some of the weight off. Otherwise just suck it up and your body will get use to it eventually.

I get the same but in my wrists from too much forward weight. Only on long city commutes though (i.e 50kph stop start traffic). Open road it's not a problem as the wind resistance/crouch/lean takes a lot of the weight off my arms.

[superjackal]

Whats the tennis ball trick? I hav heard of the ping pong ball trick.but i think they might be different.

Take a hard tennis ball and place it under your back lying on the floor. Manoeuvre yourself over the ball until you feel contact with the injured area. Try to relax your back as much as possible while gently applying as much pressure as you can bear onto the knot. Gently move from side to side “breaking” up the knot.

The trick is to relax while causing yourself lots of pain.

Be careful, if you don’t know what you’re doing you may end up hurting yourself even more.

Edges of walls and doorways also works.

Deep tissue massage is best, but who can afford that?

[rossirep]

when you say your tall, how tall are you,? and what sort of bike are you riding??
your meant to be forward on the bike with ya nuts crushed into the tank its the way ya ride a sportsbike, and i think all ya need to do is relax when riding and drink a cup of harden the fark up. im just saying.

[slofox]

For some reason, I have no problems with arms or wrists or shoulders riding a gixxer. Just me arse bones after four hours on the run.

But then I support all the weight with the central body core.

[YellowDog]

You already have the answer. It's your bad posture.

Get a new seat, change the bars, or change the bike.

Comfort is more important that looking smart.

Regarding the Ping Pong ball trick. I saw that done really well once at a bar in Bangkok.

Not sure how it will help you ride more comfortably though ?

[nodrog:Me]

Take a hard tennis ball and place it under your back lying on the floor. Manoeuvre yourself over the ball until you feel contact with the injured area. Try to relax your back as much as possible while gently applying as much pressure as you can bear onto the knot. Gently move from side to side “breaking” up the knot.

The trick is to relax while causing yourself lots of pain.

Be careful, if you don’t know what you’re doing you may end up hurting yourself even more.

Edges of walls and doorways also works.

Deep tissue massage is best, but who can afford that?

is this for single people?

[caspernz]

I'm confused...where does big ride and 1.5 hrs go together? Core body strength and general fitness play a big part, as does bike fitness, so just ride with relaxed shoulders and arms for starters...

But yeah that ping pong ball trick is cool to watch...usually seen at stag parties...but there was this night in the back streets of Las Vegas