Published June 2024
Incredibly, there are around 3 million horse riders in the UK. Repetitive strain injuries, lower back pain, and sore shoulders from yard duties are all commonplace. It’s also no secret that we sometimes fall off, and our bodies can need a little more help to aid recovery. The private GPs at Concierge Medical look after many equestrians across the Cotswolds, and Warwickshire, from leisure riders to Olympic riders, and quite literally from the age of 1 to nearly 100! We hear some incredible stories from our members about their escapades while riding.
As we head into another (hopefully) sunny and dry Cotswold Cup weekend, the Concierge Medical team wanted to share some advice for recognising and managing common human equestrian ailments. The repetitive motions and impact involved in riding can lead to various joint issues. Understanding how to identify, manage, and prevent these injuries is crucial for maintaining long-term health and performance. In our top tips today, we will look at knee, hip, lower back, and shoulder pain.
Knee Pain: Common causes are constant bending and pressure on the knees while riding. Symptoms can range from pain around the kneecap, swelling, and stiffness, particularly after riding or prolonged periods of sitting
Hip Pain: Common causes can be the wide stance in the saddle and the repetitive motion of riding, putting strain on the hip joints and leading to bursitis or hip impingement. Symptoms can be pain in the groin or outer hip, reduced range of motion, and discomfort when walking or sitting.
Lower Back Pain: Common causes are repetitive motion, twisting and bending, weaker core muscles, sudden jarring, or impact, leading to muscle strain, a little sciatica, or even disc herniation. Symptoms most often will be a persistent ache in the lower back, shooting pain down the legs, and difficulty or a feeling of weakness when standing up straight.
Shoulder Pain: Common causes can be incorrect posture or holding the reins with tension, mucking out or being pulled by a horse while leading can cause rotator cuff injuries or bursitis. Most often symptoms will be pain and weakness in the shoulder, limited range of motion, and difficulty lifting the arm.
If you recognise some of your symptoms from this list, it’s likely you have an underlying injury that needs attention. Here are some steps we suggest to help manage the issue:
Identify the joint Issue
Pin point the issue by paying close attention to any persistent pain, swelling, or stiffness in the joints, and note what movements are particularly difficult, especially after riding (to identify potential riding triggers)
Getting professionally evaluated through regular check-ups with a healthcare professional can help detect early signs of joint issues and when needed a referral for diagnostic tests such as imaging tests like X-rays, MRIs, or ultrasounds may be necessary to diagnose the extent and specific nature of joint injuries.
Manage the injury
Rest and allow your body time to recover, give the affected joints a chance to rest and heal. Avoid activities that exacerbate the pain.
Apply ice and heat therapy such as packs to reduce swelling and inflammation during the initial stages of injury. Use heat therapy to relax muscles and improve blood flow during the recovery phase.
Take some over-the-counter pain relievers like paracetamol or ibuprofen. This can help manage pain and reduce inflammation. Consult with a doctor for any prescribed medication
Physical therapy can help with targeted exercises and stretches under the guidance of a physical therapist to strengthen the muscles around the joints and improve flexibility.
Sometimes wearing supportive gear such as knee braces, hip supports, strapping, or back belts can provide additional stability and reduce additional unwanted strain on the joints during riding.
Prevent ongoing injuries
Maintain correct posture and alignment while riding. Take advice from a trainer about your technique and balance in the saddle, consider altering your equipment. A differently shaped saddle or change in stirrups can help to remove possible triggers. Incorporate strength training and flexibility exercises into your routine and of course always perform a thorough warm-up before riding to prepare your muscles and joints.
The best bit of advice that the team of Concierge Doctors can give, but say is most commonly ignored, is “If you wouldn’t compete or ride your horse if he had these symptoms, then don’t do it yourself!”
Seek specialist intervention
In addition to focusing on rider strength, conditioning and correct riding techniques, regular consultations with healthcare professionals are essential for maintaining rider longevity. Where injuries require more specific intervention to aid recovery it may need a referral to a specialist for further investigation. Our Concierge Medical GPs can refer you to a vast network of local and London-based private health professionals, from sports therapists to expert consultant surgeons.
Horse riding is one of the rare sports that can be enjoyed at any age, and by taking proactive steps to manage and prevent joint issues, horse riders can enjoy their sport and minimise the risk of long-term injury for a very long time.
We wish everyone the very best of luck this weekend.
