Bicycling, whether outdoors or in a spinning class, may help prevent knee arthritis and pain. A recent study found that people who cycled at any point in their lives were less likely to develop knee pain and arthritis. Biking builds muscles around the knees without causing jarring to the joints, making it a potentially protective activity for knee health.
Bicycling has been found to have potential benefits in preventing knee pain and arthritis, according to a recent study published in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. The study analyzed data from over 2,600 people in their 60s and found that individuals who had ever biked in their lives were 17% less likely to develop knee pain and 21% less likely to develop arthritis with pain in the knee joint. The lead author of the study, Dr. Grace Lo, emphasized the positive effects of lifelong biking on knee health, stating that individuals who spent more periods of time in life cycling were less likely to experience knee pain and signs of osteoarthritis.
From a personal perspective, Dr. Lo expressed her satisfaction with the study’s findings, as she encourages her own children to ride their bikes regularly and is happy that she also engages in biking. Biking is believed to build muscles around the knees without causing joint damage, making it a favorable activity for individuals with knee arthritis.
The study focused on a subset of volunteers from a larger study called the Osteoarthritis Initiative, which recruited individuals aged 45 to 79, some of whom had knee arthritis and some who did not. Participants were asked about their leisure physical activity during four periods of their lives: ages 12 to 18, 19 to 34, 35 to 49, and age 50 and older. The findings from the study suggest that biking may be particularly protective for knee health, potentially due to the non-weight-bearing nature of the activity.
However, the exact reasons why biking may be protective are still unclear. Dr. Lo believes that individuals who biked between the ages of 12 and 18, when most participants in the study did it, may have built up their quadriceps muscles, which could have contributed to the observed benefits. Biking may also be protective because it does not jar the joints, unlike other activities. Activities that involve non-weight-bearing movement are less likely to cause pain, according to Dr. Lo.
In terms of outdoor versus indoor biking, there is no research to determine which is better. It ultimately depends on personal preference and convenience. Dr. Andrew Gregory, an associate professor of orthopedics, neurosurgery, and pediatrics at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center, commended the study for supporting the advice that doctors often give to their patients, stating that it is beneficial to be able to support such advice with evidence.
Overall, activities that involve moving the knee joint are important for maintaining the health of cartilage. The movement drives nutrients into the cartilage, making it crucial for preventing knee pain and arthritis. The study provides evidence supporting the potential benefits of lifelong biking in promoting knee health and preventing knee pain and arthritis.
In conclusion, the study highlights the positive effects of biking on knee health. Biking has the potential to build muscles around the knees without causing joint damage, making it a beneficial activity for individuals with knee arthritis. The study’s findings provide valuable evidence to support the advice given by healthcare professionals regarding the importance of engaging in activities that involve knee movement for maintaining healthy cartilage.
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