Is full suspension easier on the lower back?

hesitationpoint · Mar 18, 2018

Sitting over jarring bumps is a bad idea whether you are riding a hardtail or FS. It's like asking, which is better for your back - hitting with a hammer or a mallet. Well the answer is probably the mallet. Better yet, don't hit your back at all, stand-up. I am amazed at the number of people I see riding mountain bikes sitting pretty much 90% of the time.

And yes, I have a history of back problems which is why I peeked into this thread. 5 years ago, I could not carry a backpack for more than an hour without getting back soreness. Core exercises and riding a hardtail standing up cured it. If I would have bought a FS first and learned to ride sitting down, who knows.

Schulze · Mar 18, 2018

Mr Pig said:
I disagree. I'm with the others who say that yes, a full-sus is easier on you. I've ridden the same trails on both, there is no contest. Think about it, would diving a gavel road in a car with no suspension be as easy on your body as a car with suspension? Same thing.

I think if I had an upright position on my saddle like in a car (and many bike riders) it would be compressing the discs and be hard on the back. I guess I'm more of a stretched out position guy.

Mr Pig · Mar 18, 2018

BHD108 said:
The times my back hurts most is when I'm sitting or standing, but when moving, like walking, it feels great. So, it makes sense to me how riding, in general, would not aggravate my back and actually be good for it.

It depends on what's wrong with your back and exactly what and how you ride. Walking, generally speaking, is very good for your back. Cycling may or may not be. If you have a poor riding position even cycling on the road can kill your back. Ask me how I know!

This is a completely different discussion to full-sus vs hardtail. Whether cycling in general is good or bad for your back depends on many things but, all else being equal, a full-sus is going to be gentler on you. It was one of the reasons I bought one.

J.B. Weld · Mar 18, 2018

BHD108 said:
I was not coming in with that assumption at all. I was just concerned that going over serious bumps while sitting on a HT could aggravate my already troubled back.

Actually I believe this has been medically proven. The times my back hurts most is when I'm sitting or standing, but when moving, like walking, it feels great. So, it makes sense to me how riding, in general, would not aggravate my back and actually be good for it.

However, going over jarring bumps while seated on an HT can't be good for the back. If you are not experiencing any back issues while riding a HT over bumps it is probably because your back is strong enough, maybe from riding, to handle it . And it sounds like in your case you don't actually need a FS. But that does not mean that the overall health of your back over time would not benefit from riding an FS.

I don't disagree with any of that but depending on circumstances I think the part I put in bold text might be debatable. Because I ride a hardtail I spend a lot more time standing over bumps which in turn helps strengthen my back. I suspect so anyway. My back is super sensitive btw, if I dig a small hole I might be laid up for a week.

In the end I think it's always best to do things that make it feel better and to stop doing things that hurt it, everyones different but for me regular vigorous exercise has worked the best.

Schulze said:
I think if I had an upright position on my saddle like in a car (and many bike riders) it would be compressing the discs and be hard on the back. I guess I'm more of a stretched out position guy.

Same here, feels much better on my back. My road bike is pretty aggressive and even that doesn't bother me, actually feels kind of nice when it's hurting a little.

BHD108 · Mar 18, 2018

This discussion has been very informative and helpful for me. I'm pretty clear about what I'm going to get now.

What I've come away with from all this is:

Although a FS will help make for a smoother ride and therefore in general put less stress on the lower back (I guess this is obvious), how you ride is the most important thing relative to back health.

If I had unlimited funds I would get a nice FS, cuz, why not. But here is what I think I'm gonna do. Buy a good used low end HT (around $400) and add a suspension seat post like the studthumper for another $150.

And learn to ride off the seat over bumps and as much as possible. Given that I don't think my body is developed enough to stay off the seat most of the time at first the seatpost suspension will help take some of the vibration off the back when I am sitting.

hesitationpoint · Mar 19, 2018

Whatever you do, good luck. I know the initial mountain bike purchase can be as confusing as hell.

As for learning to ride standing up, you won't regret it. Watch some videos of expert mountain bikers and they are all riding standing, unless they are coasting on a fire road. It's just part of developing good bike handling skills. It allows you to shift your weight much more so you can weight the front for cornering and hang back when descending.
You will progress much faster standing than sitting. Plus, you can pedal with more power. Good luck.

DIRTJUNKIE · Mar 19, 2018

I’ve got a weak back. I hurt it about a week back.

stripes · Mar 19, 2018

I really enjoy full suspensions as I’ve gotten older and things hurt more. I do much better on a full suspension than a hardtail in most cases. I’m trying a steel hardtail running plus wheels. I won’t use it for chunk but figured it’ll be fun for the smoother stuff and even the snow.

These are my experiences. Obviously get help from a doc or PT, but hopefully this will help.

However, 8 years I was at my heaviest. 215 lbs. Had such bad back pain from a compressed disc I was off the bike 6 months. Lots of PT. A ton of tears. Not only was that some of the worst pain I’ve ever experienced, but also I wasn’t able to ride so I was getting depressed.

After losing 30 lbs I’ve been a lot stronger. But there are some things I have discovered that are big for keeping the back pain in check:

- squats. Body weight is fine but at least every other day. Squeeze your glutes on the way up. A lot of this pain can be from lack of glute strength.
- stretch hip flexors and hamstrings. Either one being tight can cause low back pain. Stretch every day.
- planks. Planks not only strengthen your core, but also loosen hip flexors. This was a big one for me. You can’t get out of this one unless your doc says no.
- bridges. Strengthens your low back. Go slow with this and don’t force it.

Things that can be up with your bike:
- a bad fit. Oh this one can take a toll on your body.
- cranks being too long. Not only troublesome for the knees but also the low back. On long cranks I get low back pain.
- too hard of a gear. This can put undue pressure on your back pedaling too hard of a gear for long periods.
- pedaling over chunk seated or taking a big hit seated. Don’t do this if you can. Better waking for a section than riding a section that hurts you. Love to ride another day.

edubfromktown · Mar 19, 2018

J.B. Weld said:
I've had chronic back problems for years (herniated disc) and cycling is my savior, the more ride the better it feels and the less likely I am to injure it. My back was really bothering me yesterday and a long road ride totally cured it.

I've never had a full suspension but for me riding any bike is good therapy for my weak back.

+1 riding in general is good for keeping my back loosened up. 30 years of playing soccer among other things has left me with back pain flare-ups a few times each year.

I have two rigid single speeds, a hard tail and full suspension bike and pedaling any of them lessens the chance of a flare up. On rough terrain, the full suspension bike has some advantages in the cush/couch riding department.

Since I am over 50 and have a lot of riding experience, knowing how to pick a good line is even more of an advantage IMO and running tubeless tires (at lower pressures) is also a big plus.

mack_turtle · Mar 19, 2018

If your back is hurting and you deal with it only by riding a FS bike, that's only a partial solution. If you keep changing your bike to accommodate injuries, you'll be riding a recumbant in a few short years.

Straighten out your misaglined back and strengthen your core. I recommend employing a chiropractor, sports doctor, or physiotherapist to help you in this endeavor.

Suffered from debilitating lower back pain a year ago. Working with a chiro/ sports doctor to strengthen my core and back, and getting a frame that fit me made a HUGE difference.

Crankout · Mar 19, 2018

In my experience and having a history of back problems, switching from a HT to FS was beneficial.

Treating my back with proper exercise is the other part of the resolution to my back issues.

Is full suspension easier on the lower back?

hesitationpoint

Schulze

Mr Pig

J.B. Weld

BHD108

hesitationpoint

DIRTJUNKIE

stripes

edubfromktown

mack_turtle

Crankout

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