High Risk Sports - Bay Area Lyme Foundation

Mountain Biking is high risk for Lyme Outdoor adventures and activities can put you and your family at risk for tick-borne diseases. Understand how to protect yourself and know the symptoms of Lyme, especially if you or your family members engage in high-risk sports activities.

Since our founding, Bay Area Lyme has supported a suite of prevention programs to build awareness in communities nationwide. Knowing information about tick-borne infections is the best way to prevent the disease.

The following sports are particularly at high risk for tick bites and tick-borne disease. As part of our Lyme Awareness Program, we have sponsored golf, equestrian, trail running and mountain bike races in order to educate those sporting communities on ticks and tick-bite prevention.

Prevent Tick Bites

Wear light-colored clothes to make it easier to see tiny ticks
Spray golf shoes, socks and bag with permethrin tick repellent
Use tick repellent such as lemon eucalyptus oil, nootkatone or DEET
Walk in the center of the path; avoid sitting in high grasses or on fallen logs
At home, put golf clothes in a hot dryer for 10 minutes to kill ticks
Tick check yourself, jackets, golf bag, and other gear
Shower to wash away hard to spot ticks that have not yet latched on
Check carefully and use a magnifying glass or smartphone magnifier
Redo tick checks 3 days after each golf outing to see if you missed any ticks

Early-stage Lyme Symptoms

Early detection and treatment are crucial, and symptoms vary between people.

Skin rash (commonly, but not always, a circular or bullseye rash around the bite area)
Headaches or stiff neck
Flu-like ailments, fever or chills
Muscle and joint pain
Fatigue or lack of energy
Swollen lymph nodes/stiff neck

Advanced-stage Lyme Symptoms

If not treated promptly, Lyme may progress to a disabling condition.

Arthritis
Severe headaches or migraines
Stiff neck due to swollen tissues
Chronic fatigue
Problems with mood or sleep
Numbness and/or tingling in hands, feet, or back
Problems with memory, hearing, and vision
Inflammation of the heart, brain

Equestrians

Horses are a big target for questing ticks
Ticks can easily transfer from horse to rider
Back-country and trail riding especially exposes you and your horse to ticks
Lyme disease cannot be transmitted from horse to rider

For more information on symptoms of Lyme in horses visit Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine

Golfers

Golfers are at high risk of Lyme disease
Nearly 25% of golfers have been diagnosed with Lyme disease*
Fairways and roughs offer the ideal environment for ticks
Link to study showing “nearly 25% of golfers have been diagnosed with Lyme disease”