Cycling and bone density loss - an interesting article...

[dd74]

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/07/01/is-bicycling-bad-for-your-bones/?hp

It's a little scary, particularly if you're a racer. The article also states recreational riders shouldn't worry. Okay, but what determines "recreational?"

[teenerted1]

lets see is a low impact sport, with high intensity, you loose lots of calcium when you sweat, and its hard to regain the same caloric intacke during exercise. makes sense that if you dont up your calcium intack the bones would get weaker.

they said triathletes increased bone density durring the season...gee could that come from the impact of running??? makes sense that the little hill climbing animals that never do anthing but ride sleep and eat are going to have wimpy little bones.

starting out with saying someone kept breaking their colorbones is a little too obvious....that is the most comon injury involving bones in the sport. just the phisics of a fall off a bike at high speed.

[Zef]

Originally Posted by dd74

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/07/01/is-bicycling-bad-for-your-bones/?hp

It's a little scary, particularly if you're a racer. The article also states recreational riders shouldn't worry. Okay, but what determines "recreational?"

Recreational are the low seat riders on the Sunday's afternoon rides...!

[greglepore]

Sorta old news. It why I've advocated cross training w/ weights, even though it has no cycling specific benefit.

[DanielDudley]

I was told years ago that I could not bike exclusively, and that walking/running/hiking was essencial.

[dd74]

How often would you guys cross train during a cycling season? Once a week? Twice?

[goat]

Yep bad stuff.
I raced from age 19 to 38. Still ride about 11 hours a week. And yes I do run now because of the bone density run 3 days a week. If I was still racing I would do some cross training for sure.

[dd74]

Originally Posted by goat

Yep bad stuff.
I raced from age 19 to 38. Still ride about 11 hours a week. And yes I do run now because of the bone density run 3 days a week. If I was still racing I would do some cross training for sure.

Did you have any bone loss?

I take in plenty of calcium; cross-training, not so much.

[Dottore]

Amgen is bringing out a drug that increases bone density.

[goat]

Never had a bone scan. But did recently did get a hair line fracture to a knuckle while wrenching on the car, dumb luck or bone loss I am not too sure. Spinal fractures just sounds so scary.
crazy part was in 92 all the racers were hearing stories that some of the crazy light climbers were actually taking drugs to lighten bone density!

[dd74]

Originally Posted by goat

Spinal fractures just sounds so scary.
crazy part was in 92 all the racers were hearing stories that some of the crazy light climbers were actually taking drugs to lighten bone density!

Hell, I wouldn't doubt that. That crash Christian Vande Velde was in where he broke three verterbrae, his pelvis and I think his collarbone, was horrific. I wonder, though, if bone loss had something to do with how much he broke. It isn't as if he hasn't fallen at speed before.

He was back on the bike in a month.

[greglepore]

I don't do much in the season, just run a bit, maybe weights two mornings a week just so the off season routine isn't so steep-but in the off season, 3-4x wk. Course, in Pa we HAVE an off season

[Zef]

Originally Posted by dd74

How often would you guys cross train during a cycling season? Once a week? Twice?

During the triathlon race season....4 times a week, 2 hours ride at 80% max HBPM....swim 3 times a week....and run 2-3 times a week for 1:30 session each.

[dd74]

Originally Posted by Zef

During the triathlon race season....4 times a week, 2 hours ride at 80% max HBPM....swim 3 times a week....and run 2-3 times a week for 1:30 session each.

Didn't the article state you guys were the healthiest as far as bone density?

[Moses]

I'm biting my tongue here...

First. No one has quantified the risk of osteopenic fractures related to cycling by comparing the fracture rates to a normal density cycling population. In other words; Is this a small problem, a big problem or no problem at all? (I have a guess.)

Second. Runners predictably tear down the articular surfaces of their knees at alarming rates. The knee replacement surgery rates for runners is well known and it's impressive.

[RWebb]

well, sure -- but their bone density remains high (!)


bone density loss for cyclists is not a big problem if you think about it the right way. you simple need to cross train in some impact exercise periodically.

for most bicyclists, a few minutes a day spent in stomping the beejeesus out of a motorist who nearly hit you will provide more than adequate impact for proper bone growth

see, problem solved

[Zef]

Originally Posted by dd74

Didn't the article state you guys were the healthiest as far as bone density?

Running is very hard...so I keep it at about 20% of my training time. Compared to a real marathon runner, yea, probably.

[Halm]

There were some interesting studies in the early '90's dealing with bone density versus fragility. As I recall, density was easier to measure while fragility was a better predictor of breakage/fracture. Wonder how that plays here?

[dd74]

So I guess impact exercises wouldn't be mountain biking, right?

Sheesh! I hate lifting weights and/or running. BORING!

[RWebb]

we have an odd idea bout wt. training - that is for young, muscular men...

but the most benefits are to the old and to women

you lose muscle masses as you age, and you need to lift or do something similar like tai chi - the kind where you hold until it hurts, then hold more... not "air chi" like on the celebrex ads