Nov
Ulna Neuropathy
Ride long Saturday… Ride hard Sunday… By Sunday evening some of your fingers are numb and your hands are so weak that you can’t even hold a pen.
Ulna Neuropathy (nu- ro- pa- thy) is a common problem. It does not discriminate; it affecting off road riders, roadies, and triathletes of all levels. A brief anatomy lesson is necessary to understand this neuropathy.
The ulna nerve originates in the back of the upper arm. It heads to the front of the arm in a groove on the inner side of the elbow called the cubital tunnel, also known as the “funny bone.” Here, in the cubital tunnel, the ulna nerve is superficial and unprotected. As the ulna nerve runs through the forearm it is more protected between the 2 muscles.
However, at the wrist, the ulna nerve passes thru another superficial, unprotected area on the pinky side of the palm.
Along its course, the ulna nerve supplies movement function to many muscles of the forearm and hand. It is also responsible for feeling in the pinky and ring finger.
At both the elbow and the wrist, the ulna nerve is vulnerable to getting bumped and injured. Where the nerve passes around the elbow, it may be forced to absorb a lot of shock while riding rough terrain with stiff elbows. It may also be compressed for long periods of time in a triathlete with poorly positioned aerobars, such that the rider is leaning on his elbows, rather than on his forearms.
Even more damage may affect the ulna nerve at the wrist. Imagine riding on the hood of the brakes. The ulna nerve is in a superficial position right where the pinky side of your hand is leaning on the hoods. The compressed nerve wants to get red, angry, and inflamed. Eventually, it temporarily quits working. Ulna neuropathy causes hand weakness and a numb pinky and ring finger.
Ulna neuropathy is usually short lived and resolves with a few hours or days off the bike. To prevent the problem from reoccurring, it is important to correct the errors that brought on symptoms in the first place. A few simple changes may be necessary:
• Padded gloves may help. The most effective ones have a silicone pad on the pinky side of the hand and wrist.
• Change hand position frequently wile training. Use the entire handle bar.
• Make sure your aerobar pads hit your mid forearms…. Not your elbows.
• Keep your elbows relaxed so they can dissipate the shock of riding on an uneven surface.
If you frequently suffer from this problem, there are some vitamin supplements, medications, and splints that would help.
