Cycling With Hip Osteoarthritis

[dsvd]

Hi can anyone please help me with advice on riding a bike, large frame with an arthritic hip.
Will this improve in time with range of movement when pedaling ?

Aswell as increasing the seat height can you shorten the crank arm to help smooth the pedal rotation ?

Thank you

[Sqad]

Interesting question dsvd.

Opinions in the medical world seem to be at odds at the moment re. exercise with OA of the hip.
Previously it was thought and i still believe this, that exercise exacerbates the pain and increases the hip joint damage and the pain. Recently, there has been a couple of reports from orthopaedic surgeons suggesting that exercise (cycling) does the OPPOSITE, relieveing the pain and putting off the evil day of hip replacement.
Yer pays yer money and you takes your choice.
Me.....if it hurts, then don't do it.

I cannot see how raising the seat will affect the hip problem one way or another.

Whatever you decide, your hip degeneration will go on it's own sweet way.

[Fitzer]

Not sure that I understand how shortening the crank would smooth the action but then I don't know what limits the Osteoarthritis puts on your movements. As the standard pedal movement is a circle then it's not going to get any smoother, you can (to a certain extent) decrease the diameter of the circle described by the pedal and that would limit the vertical movement of the knee and thus the angular movement of the thigh. With the number of gears available today the reduction in leverage could be compensated for but the problem will be obtaining the cranks, they are normally only available in a very limited range of sizes from 165mm to 180mm, as such the diameter of the circle is only going to vary by 30mm max which will give a circle of between 1036mm and 1131mm which will not translate into much angular difference I would think (maths not my strong suit!).

[ubasses]

This link gives advice here, seems they prefer you to us an exercise bike.
Mr U is in the same position as you and has had to give up running, he will be trying to go cycling as soon as the weather improves.
Good luck.

[ubasses]

oops forgot the link
https://www.livestrong.com/article/483796-recumbent-or-upright-exercise-bike-for-knee-rehab/

[ubasses]

I will have another go
https://www.livestrong.com/article/502334-bike-riding-for-osteoarthritis-in-the-hip-joint/

[woofgang]

As a retired Occupational therapist, I agree with Sqad. In my opinion, weight bearing exercise where the ball and socket of the hip are ground together can surely only exacerbate the problem. Non weight bearing exercise to strengthen the muscles which stabilise the hip joint while maintaining range of motion would be a much better idea. If you enjoy cycling and are loath to give it up then consider one of the partially motorised bikes that will give you assistance, especially when going up hill.....but yeah keep moving within your comfort zone and try to avoid doing what hurts.