Cramps in right hand while riding

[flw]

I find that I'm getting painful cramps in my throttle hand/palm when I ride at higher speeds. I also get them just on the couch.

Before riding, does anyone know if stretch them or excercising them will decrease the intensity or frequency of the cramps? I had to pull over for a few minutes yesterday because it was too painful to ride and I had little throttle control as a result.

Now I do a montra while I ride at speed, "relax, relax, relax". It helps some but I still feel my palm wanting to cramp.

[safety-boy]

Part of the issue may be nervousness, which causes you to grip too hard.

If you are comfortable riding, try grabbing your throttle in such a way that when you are at normal riding speed your wrist will be fairly straight.

Also, work on keeping your back straight and arms loose - elbows in. This will help you keep weight off your hands, either pushing on a sport bike, or pulling on a cruiser.

I would avoid any of those Cramp Buster things to attach to your throttle. They are, in my experience, bad news.

Last... are you on the computer much? Right hand your mouse hand? Maybe get a trackball... I have bad hand cramping from mousing. Got both the Logitech TrackMan Wheel and Marble Mouse, and they seem to help:
http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/produ ... tegoryid=6

--Dave

[Nalian]

What kind of bike are you on, and what kind of angles are your wrists at? Depending on the bars on your bike, you can end up with the same sorts of positions that cause carpel tunnel for people on computers (pronation, deviation and extension). I've been fighting off carpel tunnel symptoms for a few years trying to change the ergonomics of how I do things. I recently got a cramp buster for my throttle and I've found it helps because it helps with the extension and deviation a bit. I think that using something like that...as with most gear, is one of those "your mileage may vary."

Safety-boy, what were your issues with it?

[roscowgo]

I have trouble on the katana with dead hands, (not going fast enough to lift myself off the bars), on the c50 i get a little numbness in my throttle hand if i'm doing any kind of highway speed riding.

Thats just because i have to death grip it to make sure i'm not sliding back in the seat though. I suppose the sissy bar would eventually stop me, but by then i'd be driving with my ankles.

[Damian]

Depending on the bars on your bike, you can end up with the same sorts of positions that cause carpel tunnel...

Yup. I've got CT Syndrome. If this is the problem, you'll notice pain/numbness/tingling while you're driving a car and will eventually wake you up while you sleep.

Wearing gear that doesn't put pressure on your wrists will help. Sleeping with wrist braces will give the nerves in your wrists time to recover during the night. Taking Naproxen Sodium or some other OTC medication that reduce swelling may help, too.

Of course that's if your symptoms are a result of some kind of RSI - otherwise trying to relax your upper body and hug the tank with your legs should help some.

[hi-side]

You need to hold yourself up with your midsection. There shouldn't be weight on your hands. Weight on your hands is translated into the front end. You should be relaxed and loose on the bars.

[darsek]

In addition to hi-side's advise...grip hard with your legs as well. Experiment with trying to hold all of your weight with your legs and core. not on your hands/wrists. The first time I tried this it was amazing how much easier it was to handle my bike (Thanks Doc Wong!!!). This way you are only using your hands to give input to the handlebars, leave the deathgrip behind, you really, really will do better without it.

[Nalian]

An easy check to see if you are gripping too hard with your hands/arms is to flap your arms a bit. At least, as long as your reach doesn't have your arms fully extended in a laid back cruiser style - that probably wouldn't work. But if you're at all upright, a quick wiggle of your arms will tell you if you're resting too much on them.

[blues2cruise]

I use that Cramp Buster (throttle rocker) on long highway rides. It works quite well after the initial getting used to it.

Make sure your jacket or your gloves are not too tight around the wrist. My friend was having some problems similar to what you described and it turned out his gloves were too tight. (fat wrists )

[Nalian]

I use that Cramp Buster (throttle rocker) on long highway rides. It works quite well after the initial getting used to it.

I find it allows me to hold my hand in a more natural position which is great. I'd probably take it off for a twisty road but I've been commuting with it with no hassles.