MotoGP star Lorenzo suffers pain in forearms 03/04/2008 00:00

The rider says his pain is caused by physical demands of the sports and not a case of nerves as initially thought.

3 April 2008

BARCELONA - Spanish motorcycle rider Jorge Lorenzo, who made a stunning debut in the MotoGP discipline in March, has revealed that he is suffering from pain in his forearms caused by the physical demands of the sport.

The 20-year-old rider, who already has two 250cc World Championship titles under his belt, complained of pain in his arm during the last few laps at the season-opening race in Qatar, where he came second behind current MotoGP champion Casey Stoner. The pain returned when he took to the track three weeks later in Jerez.

"I don't know what it could be," he said after the race. "I thought it was nerves [after the first race], but now I can see that it isn't that, because I was calmer than ever. When I get home I'll check out my arms, but I'm sure it's not a physical problem."

However, that's exactly what it has turned out to be. The symptoms Lorenzo is suffering are very common among motorcyclists, and are known as compartment syndrome. They are caused by the huge pressures the arms are exposed to when their bikes accelerate or brake. This forces cause the muscles to grow, causing pressure on the nerves and arteries.

Avoiding surgery
The most common treatment for the condition is surgery. However, Lorenzo will try to avoid the operation if possible.

"We're going to wait a little longer," said Xavier Mir, a traumotology expert who visited the rider on Tuesday. Instead, Lorenzo will undergo a course of physiotherapy as well as altering his posture while riding, in order to reduce the pressure on his arms.

[El Pais / Oriol Puigdemont/ Expatica]

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