More about cycling and bone strength

[cylegoddess]

Calcium is laid on by stressing bones to the limit. Usually it takes strength training. That 2x per week,on graduated( and must be graduated or doesnt work after a while) course will do the trick. Cyclists most likely gain some from strain put on femurs, tibia, hips etc but very little for axial spine, arms, back etc. I do supplements, and calcium too but according to textbooks for fitness cert 3( as compiled by Aus Institute of Sport and USA Sports College( forget name, is very big)

8 to 10 times, 60 % of rep max( the most you can do in one rep), 2-6 reps, 2- 3 times a week.

Thats for regular health. Prevents oesteo, hip fracture, general aging nastys.

[Zen]

See Wolff's Law

[staceysue]

Since I got my road bike, I've noticed how much cycling feels like flying sometimes. Maybe all the high speeds have given our bodies the message they need to be lighter and more birdlike. Bird bones are light and strong. We're not getting weaker, just lighter!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I thought the issue was that bicycling didn't help prevent bone loss the way other sports and exercise can do (jogging, weight lifting, dancing, jump roping...).
Not that cycling 'caused' bone loss.
Um...certainly someone who sits on a couch all day would have more bone loss than someone who cycles regularly, right?

[Crankin]

I think there are some that think that the heavy sweat rate of elite cyclists can cause bone loss or add to it. Don't quote me... but mostly what you said is the truth.
My Vitamin D test came back "normal," but I don't know what the numbers were. I will wait until I go see the endocrinologist and see what she recommends. Definitely won't stop cycling because I have osteoporosis. Hoping I will be a candidate for Reclast, as per my earlier post. I am sort of waiting for a fight from this woman; I saw her a couple of years ago for a thyroid issue and she is not exactly a paragon of friendliness, although she knows her stuff. I guess these specialists are so used to seeing people who have such bad health habits, they don't know what to do with someone that actually knows something and is going to question stuff.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I guess these specialists are so used to seeing people who have such bad health habits, they don't know what to do with someone that actually knows something and is going to question stuff.

There are some people just don't like to have their expertise questioned by anyone, regardless of how much or how little they might know.
I had a smart young woman doctor who I liked a lot at first, but she began to lecture me like I was a stupid child or something, so I gave her the ol' Heave Ho. LOL

My new doctor happens to be a cyclist himself, so we share many of the same life philosophies. (I ran into him on bikes in Great Barrington, by the way Robin, and his office is ONE BLOCK from our house!...talk about good karma).
Sadly, we sometimes need to change doctors when they are not working out well for us.

[OakLeaf]

Sadly, we sometimes need to change doctors when they are not working out well for us.

And then you get a black mark on your record for "doctor shopping" and being a "difficult patient," and it becomes really difficult to establish a good relationship with a new doctor.