Weight-bearing exercise also needed--risk factors: calcium poor diet, overly thin, being female, Caucasian or Asian. Building bone strength: vitamin D, running and jumping sports + biking, weight training, possible use of Fosomax
cyclists at risk for osteoporosis
Mon, 10/10/2005 - 5:23am
Mon, 10/10/2005 - 6:13am
#1
Life can lead to...
It seems to me that living is dangerous. Just about every activity we pursue is a potetial hazard. Even typing this runs the risk of repetetive strain injury.
Seriously, a group of scientists can find a risk associated with every activity the human species pursues, depending on who is funding the research. And they can find a risk in evverything we eat - good or bad.
It's time the scientists took the test tubes out of their backsides and got on their bikes.
Mon, 10/10/2005 - 4:40pm
#2
It's not that cycling itself leads to osteoporosis, it's the lack of weight-bearing exercise that leads to it. So just add 20-30 min./day of walking plus upper body strength training twice/week (simple exercises with dumbells) and that should take care of it. I also use a milk-based recovery shake to make sure I get plenty of calcium.
Mon, 10/10/2005 - 8:20pm
#3
Recycled old news
"Alarmist titles notwithstanding, it's (or should be?) common knowledge that cycling doesn't cure all ills. Don't tell me anyone still believe cycling is ALL you need to stay healthy!?
Osteoporosis can happen to anyone who doesn't have proper diet and/or don't have sufficient weight bearing activities. A cyclist who has improper diet (""calcium-poor diet"" as the paper puts it) and don't do any other activity would still have the SAME risk (no more, no less) as a couch potato!
"
Tue, 10/11/2005 - 5:00am
#4
"I find this ""fact"" hard to believe. Mashing the pedals over a sustained climb or doing a low-cadence workout would seem to be weight-bearing exercise--to me, at least. What kind of riding are these experts taking into consideration: light spinning in easy gears? Or are they studying all types of riding?
By the way, milk alone will not provide enough calcium to prevent osteoporosis. Non-dairy foods have much more calcium."
Tue, 10/11/2005 - 6:54pm
#5
Actually, no amount of pedal mashing on the climbs will provide the necessary bone protection - all it does is build lots of muscle. You need weight bearing exercise against gravity (the body, not the bike). Relatively fast walking provides very effective weight bearing exercise for the legs. You also need to do upper body weight training to maintain bone strength in your arms and torso.
Wed, 10/12/2005 - 2:07pm
#6
I'm with Carol on what we are dealing with here. Just do some pushups. My guess is that it will give you the most bang for minimal effort.
But as to the statement that nondairy has more calcium than dairy... Fendergal, where did you get that from? Why do you suppose milk is white? It is the color of calcium in its ionized state. As good as broccoli is, it doesn't measure up to dairy for calcium. [Notice that it is green, not white?] From what I have been told, you want to obtain calcium in a biologic form. More is absorbed as opposed to in a mineral form. Nonfat yogart has a lot going for it. It keeps well, is easy on lactose intolerant people, can be combined with many things like rolled oats and wheat, raisins, walnuts, tastes good, and can be easily cultured from powdered milk, reducing cost. And don't forget to take your calcium with vitamin D for better absorption.
Wed, 10/12/2005 - 2:13pm
#7
Vitamin D
I am sure that taking Vitamin D with calcium is a good idea. It is even a better idea when the sun does not come out for 2 weeks!
Wed, 10/12/2005 - 3:33pm
#8
Why is milk white?
"Why is milk white?
http://www.du.edu/~jcalvert/phys/milk.htm"
Thu, 10/13/2005 - 4:52am
#9
I stand corrected. (nm)
Wed, 10/12/2005 - 8:13pm
#10
"""fact"""
"""What kind of riding are these experts taking into consideration: light spinning in easy gears? Or are they studying all types of riding?""
I guess no everybody is aware of this being an issue, so it's ""news"" for some after all!
Anyway, the ""kind of riding"" these ""experts"" took into consideration includes professional mountain bike racers who shrank an inch due to osteoporosis! Mountain bikers don't spin as much as road bikers. They mash a lot more. But no amount of ""mashing"" will even come close to having to propel your 130+ lb body UP in the air repeatedly (e.g. a jump shot in b-ball).
Was cycling the ""contributing factor"" of osteoporosis? Not really, it's the lack of OTHER exercise that caused it. So, cycling doesn't actually ""cause"" osteoporosis but cycling is simply not the best exercise when it comes to strengthening bones. If you already do other kind of exercise, you can probably continue to ride as much as you like. But if you ONLY RIDE, maybe you need to scale back a little so you can fit in some time in the weight room or the basketball court!
I take it back this is old news since no everyone is up with the latest health benefit/hazard of cycling."
Wed, 10/12/2005 - 4:00pm
#11
where do cows get their calcium from?
Thu, 10/13/2005 - 7:03am
#12
moo
Broccoli?
