Mountain Biking - Wrist pain?

I've been riding a lot lately and I recently, I have been getting wrist pain. It's been hurting so much that it's hard for me to even ride anymore. It's also hindering me from doing everyday activities. Does anyone else have this problem?

It seems like during my ride, I lean forward on my handle bars, putting a lot of extra stress on my wrists. Should I lower my seat? Should I get a different stem or handle bars?

Thanks,
Draft

You most likely have a inflammation in the wrist. You might want to try having about 500mg of ibprofin. With the increased riding you are putting extra stress that your wrists are not used to. This is also due to the fixed position of the mountain bike.

If you have a fdlat or almost flat handlebar you may be in the market for either a larger rise bar or bar ends.

Oh don't lower the seat. That will put pressure on the knees :)

where are your brake levers? your wrists should be straight when you are riding, and not bent backwards. I used to have my levers too high, which gave me sore wrists. I rotated my brake levers down so that the top of my hands and the top of my arms were in a straight line when my fingers are on the levers.

i went through the same thing both of my wrists got extremely inflamed if i rode, what i did was i leveled out my bars, make sure your bars are perpendicular to the ground and not angled up or down, take an anti inflamatory ie. motrin, tylenol, lastly this really made a difference, get a pair of wrist straps. i bought a pair at sports authority they're white 3 inches wide they are designed to apply alittle pressure over your wrist to stablize all the jarring, my wrists are hapy now

I had this exact problem when I got a new bike last year. Riser stem cured the problem. Local bike shop can eye ball you on your bike and suggest the correct fix. Probably a $25 correction (about the cost of a new stem).

I've got moderate Carpal Tunnel Syndrome in both wrists. Although I take two ibuprofens in the morning every day, I also make sure I stretch out before, during, and after riding. While you ride up long hills, hold the bar with one hand and stretch out your other arm. The tendons that control your fingers attach up above the elbow on the outside of the arm. So stretching your arm is actually helping out your wrists. Also, get a 1 1/2" riser bar, preferably carbon like an Easton Monkeylite. This will get more of your weight off the bars and onto the seat. The carbon will also absorb a little of the vibration which is pretty much the worst thing an inflamed wrist can get.

Just my 2 cents... Also, kill your computer :crash:

I don't know about my wrists but when I wake up in the morning my hands are cramped and some of my fingers don't extend all the way without a struggle.

Thanks for the replies.

I took some ibuprofin this morning. They're feeling a bit better.

I'm also considering a new stem and riser bars. What should I get? I was thinking of maybe the Easton EA50 Stem and EA50 Riser Bar:

http://pricepoint.com/product1800.html

Any input?

Also, Rockstar, what are wrist straps? Do they just wrap around your wrists for support?

Thanks,

Draft