title: The bar sinister: does handlebar level damage the pelvic floor in female cyclists?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cycling is associated with genital neuropathies and erectile dysfunction in males. Women riders also have decreased genital sensation; however, sparse information exists addressing the effects of modifiable risks on neurological injuries in females.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study assesses the effects of bicycle setup and cyclists' attributes on GS and saddle pressures among female cyclists.
  
  
  METHODS
  Previously, we compared genital sensation in competitive female cyclists (N = 48) to that of female runners (N = 22). The current study is a subanalysis of the 48 cyclists from the original study group. Nonpregnant, premenopausal women who rode at least 10 miles per week, 4 weeks per month were eligible for participation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Genital sensation was measured in microns using biosthesiometry measures of vibratory thresholds (VTs). Perineal and total saddle pressures were determined using a specialized pressure map and recorded in kilopascals (kPA).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Handlebars positioned lower than the saddle correlated with increased perineum saddle pressures and decreased anterior vaginal and left labial genital sensation (P < 0.05, P < 0.02, P < 0.03, respectively). Low handlebars were not associated with total saddle pressures or altered genital sensation in other areas. After adjusting for age and saddle type, low handlebars were associated with a 3.47-kPA increase in mean perineum saddle pressures (P < 0.04) and a 0.86-micron increase in anterior vagina VT (P < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Handlebars positioned lower than the saddle were significantly associated with increased perineum saddle pressures and decreased genital sensation in female cyclists. Modifying bicycle setup may help alleviate neuropathies in females. Additional research is warranted to further assess the extent of the associations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Rural Public Health, Texas A&M Health Science Center, College Station, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Sarah N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Partin
authors.forename: Kathleen A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Connell
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schrader
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: LaCombe
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lowe
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sweeney
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Reutman
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Toennis
authors.forename: Arnold
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Melman
authors.forename: Madgy
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mikhail
authors.forename: Marsha K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Guess
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001642:Bicycling / Q000293:injuries*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005260:Female; D005836:Genitalia, Female / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D017773:Pelvic Floor / Q000293:injuries*; D010502:Perineum / Q000293:injuries; D012677:Sensation / Q000502:physiology; D014621:Vagina / Q000503:physiopathology; D055815:Young Adult