Cyclist's Syndrome

A Common Pelvic Health Issue For Men

What is Cyclist's Syndrome?

Cyclist's Syndrome is a common term for symptoms of pudendal nerve irritation or pudendal neuralgia. Symptoms can include: pain in “sit bones”, perineum, genitals, and/or anus, pain with sitting/cycling, urinary, bowel, and/or sexual dysfunction, and/or feeling of foreign object in rectum or perineum. Cycling can lead to pudendal nerve irritation by compression (on the horn of the bike seat) and tension (through repetitive hip flexion). 

Chronic pelvic pain in men is commonly referred to as Chronic Prostatitis/Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome (CP/CPPS) and is also known as chronic nonbacterial prostatitis. Men in this category have no known infection, but do have extensive pelvic pain lasting more than 3 months.

Chronic pelvic pain is a complex and debilitating condition affecting up to 8% of men in the United States.

The incidence of Pudendal Neuralgia (estimated by the International Pudendal Neuropathy Association) is 1 in 100,000 of the general population but some sources report up to 4% of the population. More women are affected than men (7:3), but most health care practitioners that regularly treat patients with pudendal neuralgia believe the actual incidence is significantly higher than reported in the literature.

When the coccyx is injured from trauma, such as a fall, it can be misaligned or immobile. Due to the fact that pelvic floor muscles attach onto the coccyx, they can also become impaired. Injury to these muscles often causes them to become hypertonic with trigger point presence which can cause pain in and around the coccyx. A pelvic floor physical therapist can successfully treat coccyx pain by releasing the pelvic floor muscle trigger points and then mobilizing the tailbone.

 
 
 

"Don’t give up, it’s very difficult finding a PT with skills to treat condition. I went to CA for treatment at the Sarton Clinic for 9-day extensive PT treatment program at 11-month mark, reduced pain considerably and taught me to self-treat."

I was originally mis-diagnosed with Prostatitis – very common, especially for older male athletes - treated with antibiotics for 90 days before finding a urologist to provide the correct diagnosis.

Have seen 6 PTs and 4 urologists ranging from excellent to terrible. I did not use nerve pain meds – may or may not be a good idea? Lorimer Moseley has written excellent books on the science of pain and followed his approach.

Don’t ignore numbness, I was on my third seat for my indoor trainer, Zwift made riding for 3-4hr much more enjoyable but static trainer caused numbness that I didn’t experience outside – I wish I tried a rocker plate or didn’t ride through periods of numbness. I was a nationally ranked collegiate runner who has experienced several injuries, including Achilles tear. PN is by far my worst sports injury.

Finally – you’re not alone, I have read that 8% of serious riders may experience PN. Reaching out to others has helped the mental side of this injury – thankful to have met Kate to compare treatments notes.

S.S. Learn More About Scott's Journey

"As a male having any pelvic floor ailment, one soon finds out that pelvic floor physical therapy specialists for men are exceedingly difficult to come by, especially with the high magnitude of experience that Julie Sarton and her team have at Sarton Physical Therapy! I was experiencing pain in my pelvic region from following an excessive road cycling regime. With effectively no help from local medical professionals, I embarked on a journey that most with this sort of ailment do and started to research for myself."

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Once I suspected what my issue was, it further became apparent that it was going to be difficult to get the medical attention necessary for recovery, nor did I have a clue where to start literally in the World to find a medical professional that had the experience combined with the commitment to heal myself.

As I became immersed in my research I soon found what by all accounts was the most experienced pelvic floor physical therapist on the continent or arguably the World that one could possibly have the fortune to find. I found Julie Sarton and the Sarton Clinic. When I made first contact with Julie to understand what services I could hope to receive, Julie spent over an hour on the telephone discussing my issue with me. It was instantly clear that I found a professional that genuinely cared about healing me. The rest is history …… I attended the Sarton Clinic and I am well on the way to recovery! Julie and her team continued to amaze me with their enthusiasm and unflagging commitment and determination to heal me! I cannot put clearly into words just how much the Sarton clinic helped me. Thank you!

E.H.