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09-01-03, 01:10 PM
I am plagued with muscular stiffness, especially in my legs after riding. After any rest (sitting or lying[or is it laying?]), it seems that my calves are stiff, along with the rest of my legs, though the rest of my legs aren't as stiff as the calves. I have osteo-arthritic knees and I expect the knees to be stiff to a certain extent. The muscular stiffness is not where I cannot move at all, but of the "need to warm up and get rolling, once I take a few steps I'll be ok" type of stiffness.
Any leg cramps are few and far between. I have never gotten one while riding.
I have varicose veins, definate varicose veins, and the left leg is worse than the right. Might this be part of the problem. I have been thinking of going in to my doctor about this to find out what might be done the least invasively. If it would help with the stiffness, I'd really like it.
Stretching, long stretching immediately after riding seems to help and I seem to be flexible enough and I feel great after I finish the stretching. I stretch hamstrings 2 different ways, do 2 different illio-tibial band stretches, calf stretches and a stretch to loosen the inside of my thighs.
I am trying to take in more liquid during rides as I think this may be part of the problem. I take a few supplemental potassium glucose pills, plus msm, glucosamine-chondroitin pills and a glucosamine liquid, a general daily vitamin, and a general mineral supplement. All of these are taken 2 times a day--Oh, I also take co-enzyme Q-10 once a day.
Another problem may be that it seems that no matter where I ride from my house, I have some sort of hill, mild or not to go up when I want to go home, and I really do not cool down much the last leg to my house. Stretching is usually my cool down.
Any suggestions about this?
Any leg cramps are few and far between. I have never gotten one while riding.
I have varicose veins, definate varicose veins, and the left leg is worse than the right. Might this be part of the problem. I have been thinking of going in to my doctor about this to find out what might be done the least invasively. If it would help with the stiffness, I'd really like it.
Stretching, long stretching immediately after riding seems to help and I seem to be flexible enough and I feel great after I finish the stretching. I stretch hamstrings 2 different ways, do 2 different illio-tibial band stretches, calf stretches and a stretch to loosen the inside of my thighs.
I am trying to take in more liquid during rides as I think this may be part of the problem. I take a few supplemental potassium glucose pills, plus msm, glucosamine-chondroitin pills and a glucosamine liquid, a general daily vitamin, and a general mineral supplement. All of these are taken 2 times a day--Oh, I also take co-enzyme Q-10 once a day.
Another problem may be that it seems that no matter where I ride from my house, I have some sort of hill, mild or not to go up when I want to go home, and I really do not cool down much the last leg to my house. Stretching is usually my cool down.
Any suggestions about this?