Does cycling ease arthritis?

[Trek420]

But movement and working them rusty 'ol bones is better than no movement or not enough movement. I was sedentary for a few years because of back problems and I have learned that you cannot let whatever ails you bring you down. You have to learn how to live with your health issues whatever they may be and learn to live with them and just keep doing what you love.

+1,000. Disclosure; I have arth alllllll over but especially knees, perhaps my back in the future. Keep moving, keep moving, keep moving.

Do I have to adapt? Yes; staying hydrated, staying warm (I wear capris on a bike always, no shorts), stretching before, after, during a ride. Bike fit which is always important is soooooo important when you have arth. You're body won't "just get used to" a poor fit. There's a real reason my bikes are steel. Hers does not have to be. Not necessarily expensive but good quality ride is important.

With arthritis your joint is just bone on bone, or bone near bone. Cartilage that cushions the joint in most cases is gone. It's not coming back.

Glucosamine, MSN other supplements may help but IMHO there is no quick fix or pill to pop. As my orthopedic surgeon said "they can't hurt, they can only hurt your wallet". But IMHO they won't do it all, there is no easy option. Just keep moving.

I have an active lifestyle with a sedentary body. My doc said "you can change your lifestyle to fit your body (he meant go sedentary not go straight ) or change your body to fit your lifestyle" The goal is rebuild my joints from the outside in.

You can strengthen the surrounding muscles to do some of the work, supporting the joints. And losing weight would help me a lot.

It is not easy to move, especially at first. Arth is painful. But if you can keep moving and getting stronger and more flexible it will ease the pain, I promise! Finding ways to adapt was key to me. Most of those solutions I found right here on TE.

I go on a cold ride, my hands hurt: is it posture, fit, gripping too tight, wrong gloves .... identify and solve the problem and ride more.

Now I'm walking the dog, hands hurt again; gripping the leash too tight, need to warm up, need jacket with pockets, lightweight gloves? solve the problem, walk again and more.

Keep moving. Find a way. If you give into the pain and stop it's an unending spiral down as joints freeze up. You have to push through daily and do more. If you have the disease it's hard to imagine that it gets better of you move.

When I was diagnosed I got to see the orthopedic surgeon for the 9'ers and Raiders (hey there, football fans) who said if he could put exercise in a bottle for joint problems he'd be one of the 1%