Cycling With Osteo Arthritis.

[Lurcher100]

Have recently been diagnosed with onset of osteo arthrititis in knees & hips.Am 60yrs old and beginning to struggle with some aspects of work (construction). Wondering cycling could be beneficial or detrimental as have been advised to keep active.

[woofgang]

Lets be clear. If someone with osteo arthritis already cycles and wants to continue then my professional advice would have been that provided the joints aren't in an advanced stage of degeneration, i would have said go ahead.
If someone in the same circs wanted to cycle for other reasons (fun, social aspect and so on) I would say give it a try but build up slowly, not too much hilly or rough terrain and stop if you get increased joint pain.
If someone in the same circs has asked me, as the OP did, whether taking up cycling would be beneficial. I would be saying what I have said; that while it is low impact (not jarring like jogging or zumba) it is load bearing and there are better ways to maintain and improve muscle tone and range of motion.

[woofgang]

PS I am a retired Occupational Therapist.

[Khandro]

You could consider an electric bike (all the rage here) it will allow you the exercise to keep you joints moving and take the heavy strain out of riding up inclines and against head wind.

[Khandro]

http://www.e-bikesdirect.co.uk/

[slaney]

Ah yes woofgang - now I remember.
I've had a quick look at the research and most of the trials showing cycling to benefit osteoarthritis of the knee, with improved pain relief and function, used stationary cycling.

[-Talbot-]

Electric bike are ok, Khandro...but you have to re beer if the battery goes flat they are like peddling a fork truck.

[-Talbot-]

Remember.....Jesus

Remember...not re beer

Why the heck would my iPad think I meant ' re beer'?

[Khandro]

Talbot; there are masses of them in these parts, I don't think it's any more of a problem than with an electric car, - you make sure it doesn't happen by thinking ahead.
I'm older than Lurcher and recently climbing a long steep hill (I was once a racing cyclist, by the way) I was overtaken by two quite old lady cyclists both chatting away merrily. I thought cor blimey you a beginning to really show your age, when I noticed they were both pedalling e-bikes, which softened the blow just a bit. :0)

[-Talbot-]

Khandro...that is exactly how I discovered electro bikes.

[woofgang]

indeed slaney, you can use high gears all the time and you aren't converting downward pressure into forward motion, just putting the knee and hip through a good range of motion...very different from going out on a bike on the open road.

[Khandro]

woofgang; I can ride a bike for several hours and climb long flights of stairs without problem, but coming DOWN stairs is painful in the knee dept. what's that all about please and is there a remedy, - apart from sliding down the bannister!

[woofgang]

both knees or only one?

[Khandro]

^mostly the right one, but a little left as well

[woofgang]

and at what point of the process? when the leg is trailing behind or when its straight and you have full weight on it?

[Khandro]

^ Full weight, just as it starts to bend forward

[woofgang]

I am going to bet on cartilege. Might be worth getting advice from a decent physio. There is stuff you can do to improve the knee and slow down the progress of the problem.

[joe.s-b]

I swimming is a good idea using the right stroke. I swam three a week but after extensive but successful surgery I had to give up for a while then my knee pains started. I had expert advice in Portsmouth where there are very good swimmers. Swim on your back and use your legs slowly and carefully either full leg or up to the knee only and paddle with your hands. Stay at the side of the pool away from the fast tracks and I found that most swimmers were helpful even when you are slow and kept clear even if you seemed to be a nuisance.. It worked for me at the age of 90. Try it.