Great Lakes - Osteporosis Risks

Hey guys, I think we should really look at this.

http://www.latimes.com/features/la-he-cycling16-2009feb16,0,6221223.story

Not sure what to do about it but I think I'll get the scan.

Just because you're an athlete doesn't mean you're immune to anything.

You may as well get poked, probed, cathed, and scanned for everything, and you know what? If they look hard enough, they WILL find something! After all, you're human.

There are only two things certain in life ... (well, you know the rest)

Just ride and enjoy it. :)

Interesting article. What bothers me is that it does not illuminate that the same dangers are even more prevelant in serious runners and marathoners with low body fat. It also doesn't really define a serious cyclist. I ride 5,000 miles a year at a steady pace, but I am not competitive and just have a regular BMI - 19. I don't think that puts me at any more risk than sitting on my behind, but in fact might reduce the risk. You are still building muscle at the very least in your legs.

Wis, that's the point, running has impact and you don't have bone loss. We don't have impact ... that's the problem.

No, I understand that. But elite runners have similar risks because of their low body fat, particularly from the waist up. I agree that the risk may be lower with runners, but it is still present, especially with a BMI under 18. At any rate, I'm glad you posted the article. I never really thought about it terms of cycling.

Example here: http://runningtimes.com/Article.aspx?ArticleID=7376

That's the problem with the anti-holistic approach. And also the problem with the american working lifestyle. We sit too much and then expect health club exercise to cure our incipient obesity.

If we, as a nation, drove less. Had working environments that required walking (see: lower rates of sedentary health issues in nations like Japan where many meetings and much of work is done on the hoof, even in so-called knowledge work) and spent more time on our feet in general I think we'd have less problem with our health.


This was sparked last night when my wife was reading an article questioning why the French had lower rates of heart disease and emphysema despite the fact that they eat more fat, drink more and smoke more than practically every other nation on earth. I have a feeling that its also the walking lifestyle.

That, plus better eating habits (Olive Oil instead of other oils).

I work in a downtown. While I do drive and sometimes take the bus during DST (November through March - bike commuting will start again as early as next week, yeah!), I park 5 blocks away because the ramp is cheaper and I enjoy the exercise. Most of my colleagues who drive park across the street, paying a higher rate, just so they don't have to walk. I live where much of what I need is within 1.5 miles, so if I can't bike there due to weather, I walk (ok, except for groceries).

It is the "health club" lifestyle that scares off sedentary people. They are somehow threatened into thinking that the health club is the only way to exercise, and are intimidated, when in reality just doing a little more walking will make a big difference. Just comparing the body types of people who live in cities like Chicago and NYC with those in the 'burbs (present company excepted) you can see how the walking versus driving lifestyle makes a difference.

What I do dislike about this articles is that for the sedentary soul it just fuels their fire - "I don't have a risk of osteo!" (to which, of course, we have many good responses, but nonetheless)

I wonder how much low body weight is a factor for both elite runners and hard core cyclists. I also wonder if the various sports drinks, gels and bars provide enough calcium while exercising.

Jump on the treadmill.

Take a run outside once in a while.

Cross train a bit.

There you go.

Jump on the treadmill.

Take a run outside once in a while.

Cross train a bit.

There you go.

Or work like my poor arse, 30 yrs+ standing on concrete for the man. :mad:

Used to run and I'll try again in the spring but I have a bum knee and am doubtful. If I can't run, I'll talk to my Doc and ask what I should do.

Used to run and I'll try again in the spring but I have a bum knee and am doubtful. If I can't run, I'll talk to my Doc and ask what I should do.


:cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry:

Or work like my poor arse, 30 yrs+ standing on concrete for the man. :mad:

I'm working on year 4 of activity like that. Though... I don't work for The Man.

Though... I just realized that we could all take up downhilling on fully rigid frames. Would that be enough impact?

:cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry:

Boy am I feeling the love ...


lol

Used to run and I'll try again in the spring but I have a bum knee and am doubtful. If I can't run, I'll talk to my Doc and ask what I should do.

Hop on a mountain bike and hit the trails. Higher impact.

I didn't read the article, but I figure it's the one that points out studies showing low bone density in cyclists. That's pretty old news - I saw a study about it sometime in the late 80's, and a big one that was covered in Bicycling about 4 years ago or so.

Main things I took away from that were the reaction letters from cyclists the following months (with reference to the Bicycling article). They said the article made them go get scanned and they did and an overwhelming majority found that they had abnormally low bone densities.

The "cure" is to work in weight bearing exercises such as running. I try to get on the treadmill 1-3 times a week in direct response to this.

Seeing as how CC keeps breaking bones every time he hits the deck (which is as often as a cat 3 from what I can tell) I would say he needs to work in some weight bearing work. ....

....that or it is just weak bones from old age.

+1 for cyclepsycho. I spend a lot of time in steel toes on concrete.

Seeing as how CC keeps breaking bones every time he hits the deck (which is as often as a cat 3 from what I can tell) I would say he needs to work in some weight bearing work. ....

....that or it is just weak bones from old age.


My mom (probably about CCs age) says old people are told to lift weights. Puts stress on bones and keeps mobility in the joints.

My mom (probably about CCs age) says old people are told to lift weights. Puts stress on bones and keeps mobility in the joints.

:roflmao2::roflmao2::roflmao2::roflmao2::roflmao2::roflmao2::roflmao2::roflmao2::roflmao2::roflmao2:

meh, i dont bother with such studies. for every study that reaches one conclusion there are three others that reach the opposite conclusion. just depends on who is funding the study. ride on dudes. later.

In honor of this thread, I just ran three miles on the treadmill.

I can feel the osteoporosis draining away!

http://www.cartoonstock.com/lowres/abr0010l.jpg

CC: That hunched over look might be a better TT position for you. I say at least 3 seconds shaved off :thumb:

Hmm... I wonder if wearing a weight vest at work would do anything for my core....

In honor of this thread, I just ran three miles on the treadmill.

I can feel the osteoporosis draining away!


dude, the BTC is 555 miles in 6 days. that is cycling miles. maybe you should drag out the trainer. jus sayin. later.

YOU GUYS ARE BRUTAL!

LOL


What a way to start the day ... LOL!

dude, the BTC is 555 miles in 6 days. that is cycling miles. maybe you should drag out the trainer. jus sayin. later.

What good is the trainer going to do me if my bones just snap halfway up some mountain pass?

Think, man. THINK.

I by all rights should have it. (long story short - went thru premature ovarian failure at age 20, so no estrogen. 10 yrs later took hormones for 6 months - hated the things so I quit - knowing I could be eligible for osteoporosis or another adrenal disease)

And that was 30 yrs ago. Went for a full physical on my 50th birthday - which included a bone scan.

VOILA - no osteo - although I do have some bone thinning in my hips and so I take multiple doses of calcium during the day --- and to REBUILD - I'm on Fosamax once a week.

And my cholesterol is great.

Doctor told me that whatever I'm doing - keep on doing it. And she stated that my being very active coupled with a good diet has made the difference for the no osteo.

I know I know... carry a couple of U-locks on your back while cycling...

What good is the trainer going to do me if my bones just snap halfway up some mountain pass?

Think, man. THINK.

you always got the base covered. this is why i ride with you. :thumb:

later.

I get enough impact just from getting hit by cars alone. I'll be fine.

:roflmao2:

I get enough impact just from getting hit by cars alone. I'll be fine.

Yes... Recursive IS a medical miracle. I can see it now, some time in the distant future ethnologists, archaeologists and botanists will gather together in awe of his skeleton. They will see the massive protruding bone spurs and plates from spine, shoulders, hips, knees and especially the pinky finger and marvel at the day when the human race bifurcated into two distinct species...

**** Sapiens Sedentus

and

**** Cyclens Recursivus

My knee hurts.

My knee hurts.

That probably means it's going to rain, Gramps.