According to Dr. Moley, “Most cyclists will feel lower back pain at some point, especially during hills—but you can continue cycling if the pain is intermittent and resolves after cycling.”

He explained, “Most low back pain on bikes is related to the lumbar discs—the load on the joints of the back is reduced, but disc loads are increased, especially at the lower two lumbar discs. A correct bicycle fit is very important. Seat height, crank arm length, and saddle fore and aft [or where your seat is placed] can all help to make a more comfortable ride.”

Read the full article at Bicycling.com.

Dr. Moley explained in runners with structural hip abnormalities such as femoroacetabular impingement (FAI), osteoarthritis in the hip can arise as early as age 40.

Additionally, two-thirds of hip stress fractures in runners are caused by excessive mileage and significantly more common in women. Pain from a stress fracture is usually sharp when walking or running and may feel dull the rest of the day. “It is not uncommon for it to present symptoms at rest and at night,” said Dr. Moley. An x-ray and typically an MRI will confirm a stress fracture.

This article appeared in the June 2020 print edition.