Cycling & bikes - WHOOPS! Scrotal trauma in mountain bikers

"... so that mountain biking remains a relatively safe and healthy sport"? What have they been smoking???

Mike

http://www.tele-management.ca/2013/1...untain-bikers/

Scrotal trauma in mountain bikers

By Tele management

(TeleManagement) Austrian researchers, report the results of a study which found that excessive mountain biking can cause scrotal trauma, leading to scrotoliths.

The authors, from University Hospital Innsbruck, carried out the study to determine whether mountain bikers had a higher frequency of extratesticular and testicular disorders. 45 amateur mountain bikers, all of whom cycled for at least two hours a day, six days a week, covering a total of 5,000 km annually, were compared with a control group of 31 medical students who were not bikers. All subjects underwent clinical assessment, including scrotal inspection and palpation, and had an ultrasound examination.

The study showed:
43 (96%) of the 45 mountain bikers had scrotal abnormalities at examination compared with five (16%) controls
Half the mountain bikers reported tenderness and discomfort when physically examined after abnormalities had been identified by ultrasonography
One biker had testicular microlithiasis, which turned out not to be cancerous
Spermatoceles were found in three times as many bikers as controls and, of these, 32% had symptoms compared with none of the control group, suggesting that microtrauma of the epididymis had occurred.

The researchers commented, ‘We assume that the abnormalities of scrotal contents detected are essentially a saddle-related problem, resulting from a higher rate of microtrauma to the scrotal contents than previously assumed..’ They continued, ‘The mechanical component responsible for these changes can be reduced by improving the padding of the seat or shorts, adjusting the saddle angle to either horizontal or upward in front, adjusting the saddle height, using an ergonomically designed saddle, and by taking frequent rests during each ride. Furthermore, new shock-absorbent saddles and full suspension bikes might help reduce saddle vibration and microtraumatisation so that mountain biking remains a relatively safe and healthy sport.’