The 5 Most Common MTB Injuries, According to Riders Who Learned the Hard Way

Riding a mountain bike comes with risks, and injuries are common among most riders, from minor cuts and scrapes to broken bones and more severe head trauma. But what are the common injuries from mountain biking, and what is the recovery like for the most common MTB injuries? Well, I’ve had most of them over the years. From the minor scrapes and bumps to the more severe head trauma, fractured bones, and ligament damage. Here is a short list of the types of mountain bike injuries, what to do after a mountain bike crash, and some of the other less common injuries in the sport.

Mountain biking comes with its fair share of risk, and anyone involved in the sport will confirm that it’s not necessarily a safe one to get into if you’re uncomfortable with injury. Personally, I’ve got a long list of injuries sustained on the bike, but maybe something is wrong with me for keeping at it. We keep getting back in the saddle because it’s a sport that is just that rewarding and worth the bumps and bruises. The lessons it teaches and the outlet it provides outweigh the injury, and many of the injuries sustained from mountain biking can be seen as a badge of honor.

The human body isn’t necessarily meant to be hurled down a mountainside - shocking, I know. Despite evolution telling us we shouldn't be doing what we’re doing, there's no stopping it now. As the great Jeremy Clarkson said, “Speed has never killed anyone. Suddenly becoming stationary, that's what gets you.” A statement that holds true for just about every action sport, and I can’t remember ever breaking a bone because I was going too fast on a section of trail… 

Scrapes & Cuts

These are probably the most common injuries sustained while mountain biking, and are usually pretty minor. You can get cut and scraped up in a ton of ways while mountain biking: pedals hitting the shins, sliding out in a corner, catching yourself while falling, hitting a tree, or going over the bars. These are all just part of the sport, especially when you’re just starting out.

Although these are usually minor, they need to be addressed and treated appropriately to avoid infection, which could cause major issues down the road. Luckily, most small scrapes and cuts can be cleaned out, patched up, and left to heal on their own, but more serious cuts might require stitches or further treatment.

The 5 Most Common Cuts and Scrapes in Mountain Biking

• Knees
• Shins
• Elbows
• Palms
• Hips

Concussions

A bonk on the head. A ring of the bell. Seeing stars. There are plenty of slang terms for this injury, and while it’s a fairly invisible injury, the research and monitoring of concussions is revealing just how long they can last and how profound the effects can be. Who would have thought that injuring the brain would be a bad thing?

Concussions can range from fairly minor to totally life-altering, and should not be taken lightly. There are three grades of concussions, each with its own protocols for returning to sport, as outlined by South Miami Neurology (Concussion: Types, Causes, and TreatmentsBy J. Murray / March 18, 2025)

Grade 1 (Mild) Concussion

• Symptoms are temporary and usually resolve within 15 minutes.
• No loss of consciousness occurs.
• The individual may experience dizziness, confusion, or headaches, but can continue with daily activities after a brief rest.

Grade 2 (Moderate) Concussion

• Symptoms last longer than 15 minutes.
• There is no loss of consciousness, but cognitive impairment may be more pronounced.
• Individuals may experience nausea, memory problems, and difficulty concentrating.

Grade 3 (Severe) Concussion

• Involves a loss of consciousness, even if only for a few seconds.
• Symptoms are more intense, including prolonged confusion, persistent headaches, and potential long-term neurological effects.
• Requires immediate medical evaluation to assess potential brain damage. 

Broken Bones

The most common broken bone in mountain biking is a clavicle fracture. The collarbone is designed to break—think of it as a failsafe in the human body. Most mountain bikers who have been really avid for years have probably dealt with a clavicle fracture, and they will also attest to how it’s no big deal. The recovery is fairly short (depending on the severity), and surgery is not uncommon to stabilize the break if it’s really bad.

In my experience, most clavicle fractures take between 5 and 7 weeks to heal, sometimes as little as 4 weeks before getting back on the bikes, but that is very rare. Other common fractures in mountain biking can take much longer to heal and have lasting effects depending on severity.

5 Most Common Broken Bones in Mountain Biking

• Clavicle (Collarbone)
• Wrist (Scafoid, Metacarpal)
• Arm (Ulna, Radius)
• Leg (Tibia, Fibula)
• Ribs

Mental Injuries

This one isn’t physical, but it can still affect the body. Crashing into a feature or being intimidated by a jump or obstacle on the trail can shake you up pretty good, leaving you feeling it long after the physical injury has healed. The mental game of mountain biking plays a huge role in rider confidence, and the lingering self-doubt that follows a crash, or the fear that creeps in after eyeing a big feature, is something we all deal with at some point.

The best way to recover from this is to ride within your means until you feel comfortable getting back to where you once were, no matter how long that takes. Riding scared, shaky, or without confidence in yourself is the easiest way to crash, and I have recently started putting the ego aside to avoid riding too far outside of my comfort zone.

4 Tips To Avoid Crashing

• Eat
• Drink
• Sleep well
• Don’t let the ego get in the way

Financial Injury

From broken bikes and parts to broken bodies and helmets, mountain biking can lead to some unforeseen financial consequences. Bikes and bike parts are expensive, and investing in the sport with time and money can leave your bank account injured. Crashing can break more than just the body, and replacing bike parts can add another expense to the equation; unless you have pretty great insurance, the recovery of the body can also rack up a serious bill. So finding insurance that accounts for the risks of mountain biking is pretty damn important, and Spot does a great job of catering to the chaos of our sport.

I’ve been using Spot Injury Insurance for the last few years and have been extremely happy with their service, and have had many trips to the hospital for broken bones over the last few years, all of which were fully covered by Spot. 

How To Avoid Injury While Mountain Biking

There isn't really a science behind how to avoid injury in any sport because there are a lot of factors that are out of your control, but there are some things you can do to reduce the likelihood of crashing and getting injured. Almost every MTB injury is from crashing, so the easiest way to prevent injury is simple: Don't crash. Easier said than done.

A common, yet skewed, belief in action and gravity sports claims that crashing equals progress. While there is some truth to this, it promotes a negative view of progression. It implies that crashing is necessary for growth or simply part of it, but in reality, most crashes result from fatigue, overconfidence, or random accidents.

Unfortunately, the best way to avoid a crash is to not ride your bike at all, but that isn't fun, so we have 9 tips to help you avoid hitting the dirt.

Tricks and Tips To Avoid Crashing on Your Mountain Bike

• Don’t Ride Fatigued
• Pre-Ride and Learn the Trails
• When in Doubt, Don’t Ride a Feature
• Put the Ego Aside
• Warm Up and Cool Down
• Scan the Trail Ahead
• Never Call Last Lap
• Check Your Gear
• Remember to Have Fun