Fairfield-Echo.com

(HealthDayNews) -- If you're an avid mountain biker, you probably have days when your wrists ache. When you grip the handlebars, the repeated shocks that occur as you bounce over rocky terrain can cause handlebar palsy, characterized by numbness, tingling, and pain in the arm, hand, wrist and little finger.

Prevention is key to avoiding the condition, says the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.

Here are some tips:

• Make sure your bike is the right fit for your size.
• Wear padded gloves and pad your handlebars.
• Sit in a more upright position. This puts less weight and pressure on your hands and wrists.
• Take rest periods between long bike trips.
• Change your hand position on the handlebars frequently.