Headaches after cycling

[mjf1017]

Odd one this. I've noticed (after 3 years - doh!) that my headaches (could be migraines as that what the GP has been treating me for) happen the day after a bike ride - even just the 30 min commute to and from work.

I only realised this when I'd been virtually headache free over winter (when the bike stayed in the garage), and for 5 weeks in the spring when convalescing from a bike crash.

I ride a hybrid flat bar and notice I get a hell of a lot of tension in the muscles between my shoulder blades and in the muscles between my neck and shoulders, and the headaches could be differed pain from this.

I know that back pain can go with cycling, but didn't realise headaches did, any body else have similar symptoms...?

 

[ElChingon]

Humm... I usually have headaches before the ride and then it goes away. Seriously, I know some might not read it as its written.

If your head is tweaked during the ride, some people ride with a tweaked head (skewed, tilted, what ever term you use) it might affect it. Have you had someone look at your position when you ride? Usually takes an independent viewer to tell you the truth, some friends will mock each other about those things, good and bad.

 

[winkybiker]

I sometimes get a mild headache for a few hours after a long ride. I put it down to a bit of dehydration, perhaps (although I drink well and don't have any other symptoms). Also doesn't seem to be correlated with temperature.

I think the muscular tension you describe might be a key. Perhaps get your position checked. You want a feeling in your core that you are relaxed and slightly leaning on your arms, but without any real force. Your shoulders, in particular should be feeling no noticeable strain. I see a lot of people riding semi-upright with tension in their bodies. It looks like they are trying to sit more upright, but are then stretching for the bars.

Oh, and back pain doesn't naturally go with cycling. Cycling as actually very good at strengthening your back and helping with pain. Again, it can come down to position.

 

[alitogata]

Odd one this. I've noticed (after 3 years - doh!) that my headaches (could be migraines as that what the GP has been treating me for) happen the day after a bike ride - even just the 30 min commute to and from work.

I only realised this when I'd been virtually headache free over winter (when the bike stayed in the garage), and for 5 weeks in the spring when convalescing from a bike crash.

I ride a hybrid flat bar and notice I get a hell of a lot of tension in the muscles between my shoulder blades and in the muscles between my neck and shoulders, and the headaches could be differed pain from this.

I know that back pain can go with cycling, but didn't realise headaches did, any body else have similar symptoms...?

Have you checked if you have chronic Rhinosinusitis? This is a inflammation of the sinuses that sometimes gives no symptoms unless you trigger somehow the nose area and this happens when you cycle when dust, pollution or just cold air gets in your nose. The one day you are fine and then next day you can have terrible head aches and other symptoms.. ( check the link if you have any of them too).

I don't think that the cause of your headaches can be the tension that your ride position causes to your back muscles, though this can be a problem by itself and a factor that makes worst the headaches. But it can't cause you headaches the day after. Either immediately or not at all.

 

[dsut4392]

Odd one this. I've noticed (after 3 years - doh!) that my headaches (could be migraines as that what the GP has been treating me for) happen the day after a bike ride - even just the 30 min commute to and from work.

I only realised this when I'd been virtually headache free over winter (when the bike stayed in the garage), and for 5 weeks in the spring when convalescing from a bike crash.

I ride a hybrid flat bar and notice I get a hell of a lot of tension in the muscles between my shoulder blades and in the muscles between my neck and shoulders, and the headaches could be differed pain from this.

I know that back pain can go with cycling, but didn't realise headaches did, any body else have similar symptoms...?

Could well be tension headache. Dehydration headaches (which are physiologically similar to a migraine FWIW) are a possibility but on a 30 minute commute that shouldn't be a problem, unless you're routinely not drinking enough and that ride pushes you over the edge. Onset of a dehydration headache is normally within a few hours, but could be the following morning if you go to bed dry.

Going with the tension headache theory, I'm not a fan of physiotherapy treatments like TENS or ultrasound stimulation (no evidence for any results other than symptomatic relief and emptying your wallet), but getting some advice on strengthening exercises and stretches (and doing them yourself at home) could be helpful.

Varying your position during a ride could also help. A lot of people are pushed towards flat bars for a "more comfortable, upright position", but IMO you can set drop bars up to give the same position on the flats, plus a choice of other positions (hoods, drops) for variety.

Try this experiment: hold your arms out as if you are gripping your flat bars - palms to the floor, elbows rotated outwards. Now rotate your palms to face each other, elbows in a bit like you're on the hoods, or outer bend of the tops. Which position causes less tension for you?

When I got back into road riding after a 15 year break (in which time I was still an avid MTBer and commuted by bike every day) I got terrible headaches a few times, but these went along with a very stiff and sore neck (particularly at the base of the skull). Typically happened after a 40+ miles ride with a fast bunch, long pulls in the drops to 'prove myself', and probably a bit tense riding in paceline and echelon after such a long absence. While my legs were fine, my neck simply wasn't used to the lower position, or to being relatively static for long periods.

I did some stretching, gentle resistance exercise to build neck strength, and made a conscious effort to ride more relaxed and vary my position more frequently and the problem went away.

 

[Bustedknuckle]

Odd one this. I've noticed (after 3 years - doh!) that my headaches (could be migraines as that what the GP has been treating me for) happen the day after a bike ride - even just the 30 min commute to and from work.

I only realised this when I'd been virtually headache free over winter (when the bike stayed in the garage), and for 5 weeks in the spring when convalescing from a bike crash.

I ride a hybrid flat bar and notice I get a hell of a lot of tension in the muscles between my shoulder blades and in the muscles between my neck and shoulders, and the headaches could be differed pain from this.

I know that back pain can go with cycling, but didn't realise headaches did, any body else have similar symptoms...?

Could be related, I would say have a bike fit person work on these problem areas.

Drink lots of water, stay away from chocolate, cheese, nuts, booze, cured meats, chemically cured anything..all triggers for migraines if that's what they are.

 

[JayKosta]

Please describe the types, and locations of your headache pains.

Several bike-related things might be involved-
1) hydration, electrolyte replacement, general nutrition.
2) need muscle stretching before/after riding.
3) weak upper body / core muscles.
4) riding position.
5) helmet fit / straps, etc.

Jay Kosta
Endwell NY USA

 

[Boeing]

since this is posted in the gear section I'm going to say its your helmet

 

[Brooks Fahey Baldwin]

Well it could be your helmet....... but not likely.

Firstly it is important to differentiate between migraine and headache.
Migraine is usually accompanied by an aura (visual disturbances etc), nausea, vomitting or sensitivity to light and sound like a really bad hangover.

Importantly, migraine is caused by vascular spasm decreasing blood flow to the brain.

Otherwise headaches have a few different causes. Most likely to be bike related though is cervicogenic headache. Put simply, its usually because of too much pressure at the base of the skull, usually due to poor posture.

So bike fit may well help. Getting the suboccipital muscles treated usually helps the most though, as does the upper thoracic spine.

I also treat migraine patient's regularly. They usually have a muscular tension pattern that involves the neck, upper back and sometimes jaw. Treating those muscular tension patterns usually helps the the frequency and intensity, but it doesnt stop migraines (given they are mediated by vascular spasm, with some sort of trigger).

 

[Boeing]

Move this thread to Form and Fitness

 

[StyrbjornSterki]

If the OP's symptoms don't arise until the day after the ride, then this has little relevance. But I'm going to mention it all the same in the interest of general information.

I experience post-exercise hypotension (low blood pressure). Have for many years. For an hour or so after a strenuous ride, if I stand quickly, I get light-headed. My doctor tells me this is because my systolic blood pressure has dropped in response to the demands of intense exercise. But it passes.

If the OP already was diagnosed with migraines, and if migraines are linked to variations in blood pressure, I would think there might be some connection, but only if the headaches began immediately after the ride.

 

[mjf1017]

fair point!

 

[Archibald]

If the OP's symptoms don't arise until the day after the ride, then this has little relevance. But I'm going to mention it all the same in the interest of general information.

I experience post-exercise hypotension (low blood pressure). Have for many years. For an hour or so after a strenuous ride, if I stand quickly, I get light-headed. My doctor tells me this is because my systolic blood pressure has dropped in response to the demands of intense exercise. But it passes.

If the OP already was diagnosed with migraines, and if migraines are linked to variations in blood pressure, I would think there might be some connection, but only if the headaches began immediately after the ride.

I've suffered from migraines for years, and I also get that light-headed spell you mention - haven't had what the OP describes at all, even after 6hrs in the saddle...

Really not sure about the dizzy/light headed spell you mention being some sort of medical condition - just fatigue really. Lasts for longer than an hour though...

 

[hiero2]

moving thread to form and fitness