Originally Posted by
Todzilla
I have degenerative spine disease (as do most folks over 50).
I have episodes of pain, but far fewer and less intense if I'm riding regularly.
Does anyone else find that cycling is a real life-saver for their backs?
-Todzilla
You betcha! Any exercise is good but the bike is particularly good for my back. My wife is a family doctor and the thing she prescribes the most is *get moving and exercise*!
The exercise keeps the joints moving freely and strengthen the back muscles which help support the back. It's all good. As I posted elsewhere, I feel more decrepit off the bike than on it.
Winters are long and nasty here; I hate riding trainers indoors so my cross-training is hiking/snowshoeing on the local mountain, usually 10k or so hikes with about 500 metres elevation change. It does a good job of helping my back as well.
Sometimes overcoming my general creakiness to get going is a bit tough, when that happens, Ibuprofen is your friend.