Que : Saddle height and piriformis syndrome

[Horace]

Does anyone know of a connection between low saddle height
and piriformis syndrome (sciatica from irritated/injured
piriformis muscle deep in the buttock) ? I believe I may
have triggered such a problem this year.

I've just gotten over a 10+ week bout of sciatica. Normally
I attribute my attacks to a bulging lumbar disc, but this
most recent episode began differently. Prior to onset of the
leg/back pain, I noticed a pain in the left buttock. This
began following a relatively short bike ride with moderate
hills, after I had lowered my saddle height for better power
(i.e. higher cadences) on the hills.

I stayed off the bike afterwards, but the pain only
increased. Eventually it became sciatica in the left leg. I
am pain free now, and just beginning my training riding for
the year. :-(

Has anyone experienced a similar problem related to changes
in saddle height? Any suggestions as to how to avoid this?
Should I raise my saddle to the old setting?

 

[Wort]

On Sun, 20 Jun 2004 12:18:26 GMT, "Horace"
<[email protected]> wrote: Hi Horace,

Of course I can only write from my own experience as a racer
and coach for going on 30 years.

Have seen lots of configurations with saddles too high and
too low. Except for those setups that are truly gross the
rider seems to be able to adjust his body to the saddle
height and get good performance after a few thousand K. Pain
is normal when you start to ride a lot. It is amazing the
places that hurt. Gritting your teeth, taking over the
counter pain killers, keeping very clean, having shoes that
fit and riding 8,000 K seems to solve most everyting.

Suspect there is little causual relationship between your
saddle height and your condition. The saddle may be the
trigger of the pain but not the cause of the condition.

A lower saddle puts more weight on your pedals and less on
the saddle.

A higher saddle puts more weight on the saddle and can cause
more movement at the saddle-rider interface.

Keep riding!


>Does anyone know of a connection between low saddle height
>and piriformis syndrome (sciatica from irritated/injured
>piriformis muscle deep in the buttock) ? I believe I may
>have triggered such a problem this year.
>
snip
>
>Has anyone experienced a similar problem related to changes
>in saddle height? Any suggestions as to how to avoid this?
>Should I raise my saddle to the old setting?