Recumbent - Hip Pain

My right hip joint started hurting shortly after I began riding my new Stratus XP. The pain is limited to my joint--I have no muscle pain in my leg. Furthermore, my hip does not hurt while I am cycling, only after I dismount the bike and begin walking or at night when I lie on my right side. :injured:

Is my hip hurting because the Q-factor (distance measured parallel to the bottom bracket axle between the pedal attachment points on the crank arms) is too wide?

OR, is the Q-factor too narrow? If so, I believe pedal-extenders would be an easy fix.

Is there anyone out there who has experienced similar right hip pain and was able to find a remedy?

uniquebobc

You can look at this as either an issue of set up of the bike or something underlying your own health.

The 'Q factor' may not be the source of your problems, and pedal extenders a limited benefit. It would perhaps be better if you look over the set up of your bike first. Some of the manufacturers such as Bacchetta have good advice about this, you'd have to check what Rans gave you in the owners manual. And when you next ride take note of any overreach, hunching, wobbling of the hips when pedalling, rocking of your head, any other eccentric motions that may be contributing to your grief. Perhaps having someone along for the ride as an observer can help.
I have a similar problem with my left hip, resulting from having the lefthand crank snap in half while I was sprinting up a slope. Yet my injuries were to the right leg and hip, and broken bones around the left shoulder. It doesn't matter what bike or trike I ride, I still feel the pain. I have determined that it is a combination of my left calf muscle being twinged and overcompensation for the loss of mobility with the right leg and hip. The right hip doesn't cause me pain now, the uninjured left does. Basically I was pedalling like I had a limp. Besides changing the set up of my bike to pull my movements back into synchronicity and concentrating on having a smooth pedal stroke I have also seen a physiotherapist to deal with the joint issues, starting at the left shoulder. I have overcompensated in my right leg for the stiffness in my left shoulder while walking and as the right leg has injury this has translated to the left hip. Sort of like 'dis bone connected to ...'. We won't be looking directly at the left hip issues as this just a symptom of other problems. If you understand what I have demonstrated then in your case the actual cause of your right hip pain may not necessarily be an injury in your right hip.

So if you have such a symptom either it is the set up of your bike or you. If it is the latter you might consider professional help.

My right hip joint started hurting shortly after I began riding my new Stratus XP. The pain is limited to my joint--I have no muscle pain in my leg. Furthermore, my hip does not hurt while I am cycling, only after I dismount the bike and begin walking or at night ... .

Interesting; my wife has complained of something similar after her first couple rides on the recumbent. These are rides in the 35 - 45 mile range. I assumed it was because she is out of the habit of riding that kind of distances, but what do I know. I look forward to hearing opinions about your Q-factor questions.

I think just4tehalibut is on the right track. I'd be especially suspicious of overextension causing the hip pain, because I've seen it before with guys in my club. Try moving the seat in an inch. That's a lot, but it'll tell you pretty quickly if adjustment was the problem. If it 'cures' you, you can always start moving the seat back in increments. I've found that I get hotfoot if my seat is too close to the pedals, and hip or Achilles tendon pain if I'm stretching too far.

This is interesting. I ride a Sun Speedster SX and have recently been experiencing right hip pain, mostly when I drive my car (2001 Prius), and when I do stretching or other workouts, not when biking. And it feels like it's in the joint. Have you discovered a fix yet? If so, I would be interesed to her about it.

No, I have not discovered a fix yet. Like you, it hurts when I drive my Prius (2006 model), walk, and stretch.

I am trying moving the seat forward a little. So far, I have not ridden enough in this dark and gloomy northern climate to test out the effects of this change (I cannot afford to buy good lights at this time).

I am going to go see an orthopedic doctor in the near future, but I do not hold out much hope that the doctor will be able to help (after all, they do call it practice).

uniquebobc

I experince left hip pain. It is called age. sux!