I cycled the Hundred-Mile Gallery over the weekend, covering a round trip of just 300 kilometers. On the way back into the city, I started feeling pain in my hands. No matter how I adjusted my grip—palm forward, palm sideways—it didn’t help. By the time I got home, the little fingers on both hands were already numb. They’ve started to recover a bit since yesterday, but there’s still little to no sensation of pain. Thankfully, grip strength and finger contraction aren’t affected. It seems the issue is rather serious. After searching online, I found that many cyclists have experienced similar problems, mild or severe, but there’s no authoritative explanation or treatment advice. So after going for a run last night, I pulled out my copy of “Practical Sports Medicine” and found this condition described in Chapter 3, Section 15. Medically, it’s called “ulnar nerve injury,” a type of peripheral nerve microtrauma.

Symptoms:Ulnar nerve paralysis, claw hand, and reduced or lost sensation in the fourth and fifth fingers.
Causes:During cycling, the rider leans forward, supporting their body weight on the handlebars, while the contact points of the palms happen to align with the path of the ulnar nerve (palmar branch) as it runs along the pisiform bone and hypothenar area (the palmar branch loops around the pisiform bone toward the fingertips, then branches again in the hypothenar region—one branch going deep to innervate the interosseous muscles, lumbrical muscles, and hypothenar muscles; the other branch runs along the surface of the hypothenar, supplying skin sensation to the palmar sides of the fourth and fifth fingers). If the handlebar grips are too hard, the cycling intensity is too high, or the pressure is applied for too long, it can lead to symptoms of ulnar nerve paralysis.
Prevention and Treatment:Since this condition is caused by prolonged localized pressure, bicycle handlebar grips used during cycling should be soft and elastic. Gripping posture should be frequently altered during the ride, alternating between palm-forward and palm-sideways grips. Treatment can involve a combination of physiotherapy and taking vitamin B1 and B12 supplements. Severe cases should seek professional medical examination and treatment at a hospital promptly.
I’m currently taking mecobalamin tablets and receiving massage therapy. I hope this article can help fellow cyclists suffering from similar issues.
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