Personalised cutout saddle selection reduces perineal pain and improves cycling comfort in women with vulvar skin conditions
研究评估个性化人体工学坐垫对慢性外阴疾病女性骑行疼痛的影响，发现定制镂空坐垫可显著减轻会阴症状，骑行障碍从76%降至30%，70%参与者达成个人骑行目标。
Perineal pain limits sitting and bicycling comfort in women with chronic vulvar conditions, reducing functional mobility and physical activity. This study evaluated personalised ergonomic saddle solutions to reduce perineal pain and restore cycling ability. Fifty women (age 57 ± 14 years) with lichen sclerosus, lichen planus, or vulvar cancer participated in a pre-post intervention study. In an outpatient living lab setting, participants evaluated four cutout saddle designs, received posture advice, selected a saddle, and tested it at home for 1-3 months. Outcomes included saddle pressure and centre-of-pressure metrics, trunk tilt, bicycling-related symptoms, quality of life, physical activity, user satisfaction, and personal goal achievement. A reference group of 50 healthy volunteers evaluated the saddles in the outpatient setting only. Pre-post cycling impediments (moderate or worse) decreased from 76.0% to 30.4% (p < 0.001), with marked reductions in perineal symptoms. Saddle design influenced centre-of-pressure location and variability, particularly in the anteroposterior direction. Seventy percent of participants achieved their personal bicycling goal. No changes were found in overall quality of life or physical activity. To conclude, personalised saddle selection reduces perineal pain and improves cycling ability in women with chronic vulvar conditions. • Cut-out saddles can reduce cycling pain caused by vulvar skin conditions. • Perineal symptoms near the introitus were halved after saddle and posture changes. • Seventy percent of participants reached their personally set bicycling goals. • Seventy percent were satisfied with the selected cutout saddle after testing at home. • Bicycling impediments fell from 76% to 30% after testing at home.