Bicycle Saddles and Sciatica?

[Guest guest]

As a person who sometimes experiences symptoms of sciatica during and

after bicycling, I found the excerpt below to be, uh, interesting.

It's taken from a cycling-oriented web page:

http://www.bicyclesports.com/technical/davespage/index.html

" Too wide of a saddle can compress a nerve or inhibit blood flow to

the buttocks and legs, causing muscles to contract. If [only] one

side is affected, pelvic imbalance can occur. Also, if a muscle is

too tight, it can cause the vertebrae to rotate, thus creating

further nerve compression. The iliopsoas, a large, thick muscle which

is the strongest of the hip flexors, connects from the lower back

through the pelvis to the top of the leg. If this muscle tightens,

everything in its path can flare up. This will result in piriformis

syndrome, where a muscle deep in the buttocks squeezes the sciatic

nerve, causing intense pain down the leg. "

Any comments or criticism would be welcome. Thanks in advance.

Philadelphia, PA, USA