ReviewCureus2026
Effects of Bike-Fitting on Lower Back Pain in Cyclists: A Systematic Review.
Review in Cureus, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
0 citing papers in PubMed.
No citing paper in PubMed yet.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
5 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Lower back pain (LBP) is one of the most common overuse complaints among cyclists and is frequently linked to suboptimal bicycle configuration. Bike-fitting seeks to optimize the interaction between rider and bicycle to enhance comfort, efficiency, and injury prevention. This systematic review examined the effects of bike-fitting interventions on LBP in cyclists. A comprehensive search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, SPORTDiscus, and the Cochrane Library up to October 2025 to identify studies evaluating any bike-fitting or ergonomic adjustment aimed at reducing LBP or related discomfort. Methodological quality was assessed using the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) scale for randomized trials and the Methodological Index for Non-Randomized Studies (MINORS) checklist for non-randomized studies. Three studies met the inclusion criteria: one randomized controlled trial and two quasi-experimental designs. Interventions spanned static and dynamic fitting procedures, as well as ergonomic saddle adjustments, with follow-up periods ranging from 30 days to six months. All studies reported significant reductions in LBP or discomfort following individualized fitting. These improvements were primarily associated with optimized pelvic tilt, improved spinal alignment, and more efficient lower-limb kinematics. Although methodological quality was generally moderate to high, variability in intervention protocols and relatively short follow-up durations limit the generalizability of the findings. Overall, bike-fitting, particularly when personalized, dynamic, and tailored to workload demands, appears to be an effective strategy for reducing LBP and enhancing comfort in cyclists. However, further high-quality research is needed to standardize fitting parameters, incorporate objective biomechanical assessments, and determine the long-term efficacy of these interventions.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.