Que : Saddle height and piriformis syndrome

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?

On Sun, 20 Jun 2004 12:18:26 GMT, "Horace"
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?