cycling with hip osteo alright?

[deadcat]

in training for my Ironman i got hip pain so got some films done and then an ortho consult to cop the bad news that i've got significant osteo in my L hip and should be thinking more about preserving the function i do have rather than running on it. So in a way i've got that into my head, and even though he did say cycling was alright i'm getting pretty sore and achey and am wondering if that's just par for the course and something i should learn to live with or if it too is damaging my hip. Any ideas?

[deadcat]

c'mon kids someone has got to have something relevant to say here?

[elantra]

Cycling is most unlikely to aggravate Osteoarthritis in the hip joint.
However you may have to adopt a much more upright riding position - especially if you have lost some oif your hip flexion range of motion.
In other words, use a front forks with a longer than average steerer length and use the requisite number of spacers to get handlebars up high enough.
If your steerer tube is a bit on the short side use a significantly up-angled MTB style stem.
Or get a new bike.
Always consider getting an opinion from an orthopaedic specialist who rides a bike

[Davobel]

You haven't really given us any relevant information regarding your history, the history of your injury or the history of your training. You haven't stated anything about your bike set-up, whether you were set-up professionally or not. You haven't even given us your age. What type of treatment have you had? What were the results? Have you tried any nutritional products ie glucosamine? What type of training are you doing,how intense is it? When do you get the pain? etc

The list of questions goes on and on, I would suggest reviewing other posts and re-post with some relevant info.

[deadcat]

jesus, settle down.. i'm not asking for a free consult i'm just asking for some general ideas.

[deadcat]

Elantra;
thanks for that. I've found that since i dropped the running the pain i used to get in an aggressive position on the bike has almost entirely eased off so my position, that i had to alter due to pain, is back to what it was.
The orthopod who diagnosed my hip osteo owns a $15000 Pinarello.. although i can't say how much he rides it!

[foo on patrol]

For what it's worth from me, you are better off leaving the running go and do the cycling side of things, due to it being a smooth impact action, as opposed to running, which is jarring!

Foo

[PawPaw]

A lot of people with reduced weight bearing articular cartilage between femoral head and acetabulum, have other degenerative changes, such as calcification of the acetabular labrum, and spurs at the acetabular margin. These can cause impingement with inner range hip flexion and adduction, which can be a sharper pain than that with worn articular cartilage.

You need to press your specialist for a more detailed and clear explanation of your degenerative changes, and how that might impact various positions on the bike. i.e. calcification of the anterior acetabular labrum is more likely to cause sharp pain when down on low set aero bars. In the early stages, some riders may throw their knee out laterally during the upstroke, when on the hoods or drops, to ease mild discomfort. On the other hand, worn articular cartilage is more associated with a dull ache until there's essentially bone on bone, when the pain can be a lot sharper.

In all cases, you are well advised to stay well hydrated. When not, your body will pull fluid from the joints to boost blood volume, thereby leaving the joint relatively dry, and more likely to accelerate degenerative change. You also want optimal nutrition and rest, to slow the rate of degeneration and improve repair.
Abnormal blood pressure can compromise circulation to the hip joint, as can artherosclerosis, smoking, high alcohol intake, and amphetamine abuse.

Anyone with accelerated degenerative changes to lower back, hips, knees, ankles, feet is well advised not to run or walk long distances for fitness, especially on concrete and bitumen. They are better off swimming and cycling. For cycling you want to gradually build your volume first, before building intensity. Avoid pain >3/10. Changing from running to cycling may very well stir parts of your anatomy up that weren't painful before, so just ease into it.

So many people just don't get it that all body tissue ages and become more fragile...you cannot push it to do the things you did 15-20 years earlier.
Growing old gracefully includes adapting your exercise to minimize damage, and thereby preserve function.