Bicycles are a fun way to get around. However, since they provide limited protection, you could endure devastating consequences if you’re in an accident. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were 49,000 bicycle-related injuries in the United States in 2019. That’s almost 1000 injuries per week.
Bicycle accidents can result in serious injuries, including head trauma, broken bones, and even death. If you suffer bicycle accident injuries in Naples, your first step should be to seek medical treatment. In some cases, however, it can be challenging to determine when an injury is serious enough to warrant immediate medical attention. In these instances, it’s best to err on the side of caution and get checked out by a doctor immediately.
At Naples Community Injury Center, we’re ready to work on your injury and help alleviate the pain associated with the injury. Call our Naples injury treatment center today at 239-631-5445 to learn more.
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How Our Team Can Help You After a Bicycle Accident
If you’ve been injured in a bike accident, our team can help with recovery. We use evidence-based therapies that are safe and effective for treating many types of injuries.
We can provide you with:
Personal Injury Care
Our personal injury care team will work closely with you to understand your situation and guide you through recovery. They’ll provide advice on how to handle your injury to maximize the chances of full recovery.
Chiropractic Care
Chiropractic care can help reduce pain and improve mobility after an injury, which is especially important if you have ongoing problems that affect your ability to work or perform daily activities.
Pain Management
We use various techniques to help manage pain, such as:
- Massage therapies
- Hydrotherapy
- Exercise
- Relaxation techniques
- Mind and body techniques such as acupuncture
Physical Therapy
Our physical therapists will work with you throughout your recovery period to help strengthen the muscles around your injury and speed up your return to activity. We work with patients to develop individualized physiotherapy treatment plans that meet their needs.
Rehabilitation
Our rehabilitation team works with patients who have undergone surgery or have been injured in an accident. We help them regain their mobility and strength so they can return to normal life as soon as possible.
Neurology
If we suspect you sustained neurological damage, our doctor will order diagnostic tests to determine whether such damage exists. From there, we can develop a treatment plan tailored to your needs.
Common Bicycle Accident Injuries in Naples
The most common injuries for cyclists include:
Road Rash
This painful abrasion often occurs when a rider falls on asphalt and scrapes their skin against the road. Road rash can occur on any part of your body, but it’s most common on hands, elbows, knees, and buttocks.
Muscle Strain or Sprain
A muscle strain is an injury to a muscle or tendon caused by overuse or sudden movement, while a sprain is an injury where ligaments are torn away from their attachment point at the bone (this can happen if you crash while cycling). You can treat strains and sprains with ice packs and rest until they heal completely.
Broken Bones
Broken bones are one of the most common injuries bicyclists experience after an accident. Commonly broken bones include fractures in the wrists, ankles, legs, hips, and arms.
Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI)
A traumatic brain injury occurs when an object strikes or goes through your brain, per Mayo Clinic.
Spine Injuries
Bicycle accidents can lead to injuries to the spine, such as herniated or bulged discs or paralysis.
Why Cyclists May Be at a Greater Risk of Injury
Cycling is good for your health, helps you to lose weight, improves your cardiovascular fitness, and burns calories. However, cyclists can be at risk of injury in ways that drivers cannot.
The following are some factors that pose a greater risk of injuries while biking:
No Protection
The main reason cyclists are at greater risk of injury is because they don’t have any protection from the elements on the road. Bicycles don’t provide much protection from crashes or falls. There are no seatbelts or airbags that could help protect riders if they get into an accident—they simply aren’t designed to withstand significant impacts.
Lack of Visibility
A cyclist is much less visible than a car, so it can be hard for drivers to notice them coming until it’s too late; this is especially true if you wear dark clothing while riding, making you blend into shadows or other dark areas on the road.
Pedaling Compromises Posture
Riding a bike requires you to move your body in unnatural ways. For example, when you run, your body weight rests on your feet and legs. However, your body weight shifts from one side to the other when riding a bike. This may cause strain on your joints, back pain from rounded shoulders, and neck pain.
Poorly Maintained Roads/Sidewalks
If a cyclist hits a pothole on the road, it can cause them to lose control and fall off their bike. Similarly, poorly maintained sidewalks can cause cyclists to lose control when they hit holes or cracks.
Some injury prevention tips for cyclists include:
- Ride within your limits – Cycling should be enjoyable, not painful. If something hurts, stop riding.
- Warm-up before you ride – This loosens up stiff muscles and joints, which could lead to an injury if not warmed up properly beforehand.
- Wear protective gear – This includes a helmet and elbow and knee pads, along with gloves and shoes with thick soles that protect your feet from getting cut on rough terrains.
- Bike fit – Adjust your bike to fit your body type, height, and weight.
- Be seen – Wear bright colors and reflective gear so drivers can see you.
- Ride defensively – Obey traffic laws, always signal when turning or stopping, and watch for cars turning into traffic lanes.
Our Doctors Will Help With Bicycle Injuries
Injuries can change diverse aspects of your life. At Naples Community Injury Center, we offer various treatments to help you get back on your feet. Our team of doctors will work with you to develop a treatment plan for your condition and goals.
If you are suffering from injuries from a bicycle accident, call us at 239-631-5445 and start a journey to recovery.
