{"id":951145,"date":"2026-11-03T14:10:15","date_gmt":"2026-11-03T14:10:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/951145\/"},"modified":"2026-11-03T14:10:15","modified_gmt":"2026-11-03T14:10:15","slug":"herniated-disc-causes-prevention-treatment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/951145\/","title":{"rendered":"Herniated Disc Causes, Prevention, Treatment"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Estimated9 min read<\/p>\n

Sometimes it happens with a bang, like when former Tour de France<\/a> pro Marty Jemison was racing Tour of Flanders in the late 1990s. His saddle slipped to be nose up. He thought \u201cno big deal\u201d until one of the steep cobbled climbs, where he was in the saddle cranking out maximum wattage.\u201cAnd my back just popped,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

Jemison finished the race and the others that followed until he retired about 18 months later, though he had pain off the bike and for the first 30 or 60 minutes of riding, and knew something was wrong. That something was a herniated disc that became nearly debilitating after retirement, eventually required two procedures, and still flares up to this day if he\u2019s not meticulous about his bike position and on top of his core work<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Other times, it\u2019s the proverbial straw that breaks the camel\u2019s (or the cyclist\u2019s) back, as was the case with avid long-distance cyclist Mark Elsasser of Philadelphia who developed some sciatica in 2018. He was able to ride through it just fine, but couldn\u2019t sit for any length of time before the pain was unbearable. The diagnosis: a herniated disc in his low back<\/a>, which he resolved with physical therapy and has kept at bay by changing his position on the bike, going from a 0-rise to 5-degree stem. \u201cMy spine is less compromised being a bit more upright rather than nose down on top of the stem,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

Herniated discs are fairly common in the general population, occurring most frequently among 30- to 50-year-old adults, and men more often than women. Interestingly, you may have one right now and not even know it. \u201cWe know from radiographical studies that 50 percent of those aged 40 may have some form of disc herniation. We might consider it normal, age-related changes, and many of those won\u2019t be symptomatic,\u201d says bike fitter and sports physiotherapist Bianca Broadbent, co-owner of The Cycling Physios<\/a> based in the United Kingdom.<\/p>\n

In fact, one research review published in the American Journal of Neuroradiology<\/a> found that degenerative changes in the discs, which include herniated discs, are present in nearly 90 percent of adults 60 and older and often require no intervention. A herniated disc only causes pain<\/a> if it\u2019s pressing or otherwise irritating a nerve root in the spine
<\/a><\/p>\n

Join Bicycling All Access for more injury-prevention tips and training advice!<\/a><\/p>\n

What Exactly Are Herniated Discs?<\/p>\n

Your spine is comprised of 24 vertebrae. Between those vertebrae are fluid-filled cushions known as discs, which act as shock absorbers for your spinal bones.<\/p>\n

\u201cImagine your spinal discs as jelly-filled doughnuts,\u201d says Andrew Pruitt, Ed.D<\/a>., the founder of the Boulder Center for Sports Medicine and CU Sports Medicine and Performance Center. \u201cA herniation happens when the jelly inside pops out.\u201d<\/p>\n

You may hear people using other terms like \u201cbulging disc,\u201d \u201cruptured disc,\u201d or \u201cslipped disc.\u201d Technically, a bulging disc is just that: It\u2019s when the jelly inside the donut is pushing against the side enough to bulge out from the vertebrae but isn\u2019t leaking out. A ruptured or slipped disc refers to an actual herniation, where the doughnut cracks, allowing the gel-filled center to squeeze out.<\/p>\n

A bulging and\/or herniated disc can cause pain by creating pressure on the nearby nerves. There\u2019s some evidence<\/a> that the leaked fluid from herniated discs also can cause chemical irritation and inflammation of the spinal nerve roots.
<\/p>\n

What Are the Symptoms of Herniated Discs?<\/p>\n

Again, it\u2019s possible to have an asymptomatic herniated disc where you feel no pain. When you do have pain from a herniated disc, however, you\u2019ll know it.<\/p>\n

Pain from the herniated discs is sharp and radiating. Most cyclists experience herniated discs in the lower, lumbar back (we\u2019ll get to why in a bit). So you may feel burning pain often known as sciatica that radiates from your lower back into your glutes and down one or both legs, sometimes even into your feet. You may feel pain similar to an electric shock when you stand or sit or walk. You may also feel radiating numbness, tingling, and\/or weakness in your lower extremities.<\/p>\n

What Causes Herniated Discs?<\/p>\n

So how does the jelly get out of the doughnut and start wreaking havoc on your spinal nerves? In a word: pressure. It can be extreme and sudden, like Jemison cranking on the cobbles. Or, in many instances, it can happen gradually over time, as was the case with Elsasser.<\/p>\n

When your spine is in its generally straight, neutral position, the pressure from the top down is uniform on your discs, so the jelly inside those cushions is evenly distributed, Pruitt explains.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen you bend forward, the jelly is pushed back, stressing the skin of that doughnut,\u201d he says. \u201cIf you\u2019re sitting all day, that jelly is pressing back there for eight hours. Now jump on a bike, and you add another two hours in an even more extreme position, pressing that jelly further and further, until\u2014pop\u2014it comes out.\u201d<\/p>\n

Though herniation can happen anywhere in the spine, in cyclists it happens most frequently in the lumbar (low back) region close to the base of the spine, or the L5-S1, the bottom-most disc that sits right on top of your tailbone, because that\u2019s where we bend the most, says Menachem Brodie, C.S.C.S., head coach at Human Vortex Training <\/a>and USA Cycling expert coach.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor many cyclists, the L5-S1 is where they\u2019re getting their flexion, and the lumbar spine has about six degrees of movement,\u201d Brodie says. So if you\u2019re not hinging from the hips and keeping your spine within its safe, natural range, you\u2019re pushing those limits. Keeping your spine under that kind of stress for prolonged periods of time pushes you closer to the failure point.<\/p>\n

Along those lines, research<\/a> shows that riders with a lower handlebar position and greater flexion in that key lower back region were more likely to have low back pain<\/a>. Though, importantly, the research also suggests that poor core strength and endurance could contribute to the spinal stress and low back pain in cyclists.
<\/p>\n

Of course, the bike isn\u2019t the only place you can stress your spine. The gym can be another place riders put their spine under unhealthy stress, says Dane DeLozier, D.P.T., the biomechanics lab director at and co-founder of Revo Physiotherapy and Sports Performance<\/a>. Maintaining a stable, neutral spine is very important when resistance training, especially when doing big lifts like deadlifts and squats as well as under velocity like with kettlebell swings<\/a>, DeLozier says.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen you have your spine under load, you want it to be neutral and very stabilized. You want to be hinging through your hips, not bending and extending your spine under load,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re unsure of if you\u2019re maintaining a neutral spine, DeLozier recommends setting up your phone and recording yourself (or having a friend video record you) so you can see if you are breaking or flexing under load.<\/p>\n

How Are Herniated Discs Treated?<\/p>\n

The good news is a 2020 scientific paper, \u201cSlipped disc: Overview<\/a>,\u201d reports that about 90 percent of people will get relief from their pain and restricted movement within six weeks even if they receive no medical treatment. That\u2019s because the body gets rid of part of the prolapsed tissue or it shifts position so that the nerves aren\u2019t irritated anymore, according to the overview.
<\/p>\n

You can help that process along with physical therapy, DeLozier says. \u201cThe vast majority of folks feel better and have a great outcome by doing mobility exercises for the hip and low back and decompression exercises for the spine.\u201d<\/p>\n

The exercises you do depends on your individual situation, but your physical therapist may recommend mobility, stability, and core strengthening exercises<\/a> such as:<\/p>\n

\"herniated<\/p>\n

Julia Hembree Smith<\/p>\n

Press Up: Lie facedown with your feet together, toes pointed, and your forearms on the floor palms. Pull your shoulder blades down and in towards your spine and press into forearms to lift your chest off of the floor, keeping your neck long and hips on the floor. If mobility allows, you can press up further by placing hands below your shoulders to come into an up-dog position. Hold for 3 to 5 seconds. Repeat about 15 times.<\/p>\n

Hip Flexor Stretch: Kneel with the affected knee on the floor, tighten your glutes, and brace your abdominal muscles while keeping your back straight. Pressing hips forward. Hold this stretch for 30 seconds. Do 3 times.<\/p>\n

Bird Dog: Get on your hands and knees with your palms flat on the floor, shoulder-width apart. Slowly raise and straighten your right leg and left arm at the same time. Keep your hips aligned with the torso and not tilted to one side. Hold for 10 seconds. Return to start. Repeat on the other side.<\/p>\n

Cycling itself, when done with a healthy riding posture, can also be a great rehab tool to strengthen the discs and surrounding structures, Broadbent says. In fact, a study <\/a>done on high-volume road cyclists who rode nearly 100 miles a week for five or more years had beneficial adaptations to their discs and psoas (the biggest hip flexor muscle), which were beneficial for spinal health.
<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re riding through your rehab, Brodie recommends \u201ccrocodile breathing\u201d when you get off the bike. To do it, lie facedown with your forehead resting on the back of your hands and let your chest and hips sink into the floor. Inhale deeply into your belly, expanding your diaphragm for four slow counts. Pause for two seconds, then exhale for six slow counts.<\/p>\n

Finally, while many herniated discs can be treated conservatively with physical therapy, some require injection therapy like nerve blocks, if the symptoms are severe, Broadbent says. In rare cases, spinal disc herniation can cause extreme pressure and swelling of the nerves at the end of the spinal cord causing a medical emergency known as cauda equina<\/a> syndrome.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf your bladder and bowels aren\u2019t working properly, you have saddle numbness (off the bike as well), or you have sexual dysfunction such as unable to get an erection then you should seek urgent medical investigation,\u201d Broadbent says.
<\/p>\n

How to Prevent Herniated Discs<\/p>\n

Again, cycling can actually improve spinal strength and the health and hydration of your discs, says Broadbent.<\/p>\n

Having a good bike position and the right saddle is key. \u201cYou want your spine in a healthy position that doesn\u2019t strain those discs in your lower back,\u201d Pruitt says. If you ride a gravel or a mountain bike, you\u2019re likely already in a slightly more upright, more neutral spine position, he says.<\/p>\n

An anatomical saddle will also allow you to put your weight on your perineum without putting harmful pressure on those sensitive tissues, so you\u2019re able to reach the bars without bending too far and putting your spine in an unhealthy position. \u201cSaddle technology improvements have really helped reduce degenerative disc disease,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

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You also can protect your spine by doing core-strengthening exercises<\/a> several times a week. Brodie recommends what are known as the \u201cbig three\u201d exercises for spinal stability, developed by renowned back pain expert, Stuart McGill, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus of Spine Biomechanics at the University of Waterloo. These exercises stiffen the musculature throughout the core in a way that enhances stability in the spine.<\/p>\n

How to do these exercises: The American Council of Exercise<\/a> recommends performing three sets for each using a reverse pyramid rep\/set scheme. Start with a higher number of repetitions for the first set, then decrease by 2 to 6 reps, then decrease by another 2 to 4 reps on the last set. So you might start with 8-6-4 reps and work your way up to 12-10-8 reps as you get stronger and build endurance. Hold each exercise for no more than 8 to 10 seconds.<\/p>\n

McGill Curl-up: Lie on your back with one leg extended and the other leg bent, foot flat on the floor. Put your hands under your low back to maintain your natural arch. In one move, lift your head, shoulders, and chest off the floor, keeping your neck and back in the neutral position. Hold. Then slowly return to start. Do half a set. Then switch legs and complete the set.<\/p>\n

Side Bridge: Lie on your right side, with your forearm on the floor and elbow underneath your shoulder. Bend your knees at a 90-degree angle. Place your left hand on the opposite shoulder for stability. Lift your hips off the floor so your body forms a straight line from your head to your knees. Hold. Then lower to the starting position and repeat to the other side. Work up to doing the move with your legs straight.<\/p>\n

The Bird Dog: (As explained in the previous section)<\/p>\n

You can make these exercises part of your warm-up<\/a>, along with dynamic mobility moves before you get into your bigger lifts.<\/p>\n

Off the bike, Brodie recommends practicing good spine hygiene by avoiding hunching forward when you sit and not sitting in a static position for prolonged periods of time, but rather shifting positions in your chair every 15 minutes and getting up, moving around, and doing a little standing stretch, extending your arms, reaching overhead and taking a deep breath every 60 to 90 minutes.<\/p>\n

Finally, don\u2019t overlook your mattress<\/a>. A firm mattress with a pillow top will help support your spine while you sleep, Brodie says. \u201cA lot of people overlook this and it can make a big difference in your back health.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Selene Yeager is a top-selling professional health and fitness writer who lives what she writes as a NASM certified personal trainer, USA Cycling certified coach, Pn1 certified nutrition coach, pro licensed off road racer, and All-American Ironman triathlete.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"9 min read Sometimes it happens with a bang, like when former Tour de France pro Marty Jemison…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":951146,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[569],"tags":[64,63,10236,304786,784,85],"class_list":["post-951145","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-cycling","tag-au","tag-australia","tag-core","tag-core2","tag-cycling","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/951145","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=951145"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/951145\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/951146"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=951145"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=951145"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=951145"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}