Cycling is a great, low-impact way to stay fit, but it’s not without risk of pain and injury. Cycling related injuries are divided into two groups, those that are caused by continuous cycling and those that are caused by bike accidents.

Common injuries caused by bike accidents

The most common accident with cycling occur on the roads, when either colliding with another vehicle or when falling off. The injuries sustained in these cases can range from minor cuts and grazes to potentially life-threatening.

1. Road Rash

Road rash is a type of skin abrasion which is caused by being dragged along pavement or concrete. These types of abrasions are caused by friction, which rubs off the external layers of the skin when a body is dragged along pavement.

Many bicyclists have suffered from road rash at some point, as many bike accidents are accompanied with a brief skid along the rough surface of the road. Some signs that road rash may be serious enough to require medical care include:

• swelling around the wound site
• smelly or obviously infected pus
• heat around the region of the road rash
• exposed bone

You should seek medical attention for severe cases of road rash, as infection can be painful and dangerous and may cause serious scarring.

2. Concussion

A concussion is typically caused by a blow to the skull which temporarily disturbs the function of parts of the brain. Concussion is a common injury in cyclists who have fallen from their bicycles on the road and banged their head off the floor.

There is no treatment for a simple concussion and it is not a serious condition. However, more severe concussion poses a serious risk of the brain swelling particularly in cases where there have been several days of unconsciousness. An impact to the head may also cause blood vessels under the skull to tear and bleed. The blood can then accumulate and displace the brain.

The best way to avoid concussion in a bike accident is to wear a safety helmet at all times when cycling.

3. Fractures

The most common fracture as a result of a bike accident is a fracture to the shoulder. A shoulder fracture typically refers to a total or partial break to either the clavicle (collar bone) or the neck of the humerus (upper arm). It is generally caused from an impact injury, such as a fall or blow to the shoulder. It is also common in cyclists as a fall with outstretched hands can cause a fracture to the clavicle. It is usually treated with a sling and surgery is occasionally required.