Age pains and cycling

[MGman]

Just lately my RHS hip occasionally is causing some discomfort- even pain. Yes it's old age- at 82 what can you expect!!

But .. As the discomfort is recent - can I put it to down to cycling?

Four years ago son emigrated and left behind his two road bikes ( 2x Genesis). Before selling the 2nd one I thought I'd try riding it. I was so naive I didnt know where the gear change was, or why does it have those strange spiky metal pedals!?

Four years later I do about 2500 miles a year and love it (and have 4 bikes in the garage - all esential, I'm sure you'll understand)

So is it age, cycling or both?

I certainly don't want to stop cycling- so that's not really an option.

But it might be - in extremis!

Are there any other OAPs out there that might comment or even advise?

 

[ianrauk]

I can't answer your question as I'm not an oap yet. But as I am getting older I am finding the riding just that little bit harder.
But.. kudos to you for still riding. Chapeau to you and its inspirational. Take it easy and keep it up.

 

[ColinJ]

Well done for keeping going!

I am in my late 60s and have hips that would definitely be giving me problems if I were not careful to avoid stressing them too much. That's why I stopped running years ago.

When cycling I take care to lower the bike to mount and dismount so I don’t have to swing my leg too high over the saddle. If you don't already do it that way, give it a go - it makes a big difference.

 

[Ian H]

I have a sports physio, Nigel, who deals with 'mechanical' issues.
Stretching is important as cycling doesn't use the full extent of limb movement, so you can get progressively stiffer without corrective exercise.

 

[Brandane]

I found that I was getting hip pain in my late 50's. I have no medical evidence to support my theory, but I experimented with saddle height. I reckon I had it set too high, and when using clip-in pedals, it might have been that my hips were being slightly pulled and causing the pain. Whatever, I don't get it any more with a slightly lowered saddle (maybe 2cm seemed to make the difference). If you decide to carry out a similar experiment, don't go TOO low or the pain will be in your knees!

 

[All uphill]

+1 for sports physio.

A couple of years ago I was getting elbow and wrist pains in my right arm. I tried everything without success.

A sports physio diagnosed it as a spine alignment problem within five minutes and gave me some exercises.

The problem disappeared instantly.

His other words of wisdom were that you normally should feel better after a reasonable bike ride. If you feel worse, something is wrong.

 

[raleighnut]

I just ache permanently, still get out but nowhere near the mileage I used to do.

 

[Ajax Bay]

Just lately my RHS hip occasionally is causing some discomfort- even pain. Yes it's old age- at 82 what can you expect!!
But .. As the discomfort is recent - can I put it to down to cycling?

You can "put it down to cycling" but very likely this is not the cause, not even the secondary cause (I am not a medic: treat assertions with the contempt they deserve).
I am a way behind you (age), but in another way maybe ahead (THR).
My recommendation is that you present to the doc and get a referral to the physio. They can then recommend stuff (and others above have great advice). But may also refer you to the central physio people who will assess whether this is a hip deterioration issue (and arrange an x-ray to assist this diagnosis).
But then you are on the 'pathway' and even if you crack on a ride and manage, if it gets worse you aren't waiting months to get 'into the system'.
This is what I did maybe 2017 after getting the odd nasty pain (I recall the first time at about 120km into @Ian H 's 300k).
After the consultations above (a quick x-ray showed FAI and some OA), agreed to manage it (LEL, PBP etc) but in early 2020 was limping too much so 'jumped on the pathway': again the x-ray showed FAI and some OA and deterioration over last 3 years. Managed an SR in 2020 but slowly worse (know the key life limitations and thresholds as opposed to the 'stiff upper lip'/I can manage preference) and got a (day 7:30-4:30) THR in May 2022. Plenty of prehab; walking after two hours, controlled progressive rehab and 100 miles within 3 months.
HTH

 

[wafter]

As others have said fair play for still managing to get out at all!

Not sure how relevant it is as someone half your age, however I've experienced a few issues in this area which I think boil down to two things in my case:

Stiff glutes
Muscle tightness / sciatic discomfort in the arse muscle / down the leg that's close o the hip and can feel like it's affecting the hip area. This has got worse since I started doing hanging knee-raises (which are good in other ways!). I've found stretching really helps with this; plenty available on the net but I'm happy to expend if required.

Actual hip joint pain
Thankfully not something I've experienced significantly in the recent past (although little niggles come and go), however from memory this occurs both at the inside and outside of the joint. Having the saddle too high can be one cause of this (I like the "straight leg with heel on the pedal" approach as a starting point).

I also have a problem with road bike crankset geometry as I walk with a wide, toe-out gait which means the contact points of my feet want to be wider than road cranks comfortably allow. Sadly I can no longer ride my Genesis any distance without hip and knee pain - this bike has 105 (road) cranks with 143mm Q-factor and A600 SPDs giving pedal centres of around 250mm pitch. Conversely my Fuji gives no such issues and has Deore (MTB) cranks with a Q-factor of 176mm and wide, flat MTB pedals that give a pedel-centre pitch of around 300mm.

Another point worth noting is that the SPD / clipless pedals on the Genesis serve to anchor the foot in one place - preventing the foot from finding its own position of greatest comfort, while also making them very unforgiving of incorrect setup / foot placement.

If you think pedal spacing is a problem going to flats will typically allow a wider stance on the bike than SPDs, while spacers are available to push pedals out from the cranks. I'd not trust the hollow ones - meaning you're limited to pedals that use spanners for fit rather than hex-keys through the back of the crank arms.


So in summary - stretch, look at saddle height (easily adjusted to test), Q-factor and possibly running flats to allow your foot placement a bit more freedom.

 

[Psamathe]

+1 for sports physio.

Whilst my local NHS seems actually quite good for appointments to see a physio (or similar) I have found private sports physiotherapists better.

NHS physiotherapists seem very reserved about poking you to diagnose and/or treat. On one occasion I had a shoulder issue and the exercises NHS physiotherapist had given were having no impact so on 3rd appointment she eventually decided to manually stretch the muscle and immediately - lie on couch, she pushes/kneads the muscle and within 1 min of starting manipulating cured and never came back. A different issue I have can only be diagnosed with a specific hold and push motion yet NHS physiotherapists have never been prepared to even gentle push (ribs, nothing intimate).

Yet sports physiotherapists I've seen have always twisted, pushed, puller, "does this hurt?", etc. and thus quickly diagnosed and treatment identified. And they seem to make every effort and are keen that you keep doing activities (at least for the issues I've been to see them about)

Anecdotal in that it's just my personal experience.

Ian

 

[raleighnut]

Whilst my local NHS seems actually quite good for appointments to see a physio (or similar) I have found private sports physiotherapists better.

NHS physiotherapists seem very reserved about poking you to diagnose and/or treat. On one occasion I had a shoulder issue and the exercises NHS physiotherapist had given were having no impact so on 3rd appointment she eventually decided to manually stretch the muscle and immediately - lie on couch, she pushes/kneads the muscle and within 1 min of starting manipulating cured and never came back. A different issue I have can only be diagnosed with a specific hold and push motion yet NHS physiotherapists have never been prepared to even gentle push (ribs, nothing intimate).

Yet sports physiotherapists I've seen have always twisted, pushed, puller, "does this hurt?", etc. and thus quickly diagnosed and treatment identified. And they seem to make every effort and are keen that you keep doing activities (at least for the issues I've been to see them about)

Anecdotal in that it's just my personal experience.

Ian

I had a very good NHS physio after various injuries, sadly he's retired now.

 

[PaulSB]

I'm 70 so my experience could help. I must emphasise I am a huge NHS supporter. The NHS has twice saved my life. However when it comes to physio and bio-mechanics the very excellent staff simply do not have time to investigate one adequately. At our age going private, if affordable, makes a lot of sense as we are looking for quality of life, not just a fix. I think it's unlikely your hip pain is cycling related. My experience is this.

1. Cycling is a low impact sport and while excellent for our overall fitness and wellbeing doesn't help the whole body. I suggest a daily routine of stretching the full body will really benefit your overall flexibility, keep joints moving and prevent general aches and pains. If you can add some gentle weights to your stretching this will help to strengthen the bones, cycling does not do this at any age. I work with a personal trainer as it's appropriate to me, it may not be for you. It could be worthwhile seeking out a professional who can advise on stretching and exercising tailored to your age and body. My routine is to stretch for 20/25 minutes each day and to do a weights routine four or five times a week which takes 40-45 minutes. You don't need to go to a gym. I do everything in my dining room using a yoga mat, foam roller, 2.5 and 5kg dumbbells, 10kg kettlebell and some stretch bands.
2. For years I had left hand side hip pain which my GP diagnosed as early onset osteoarthritis. Ten years ago I was referred for NHS physio and then referred to NHS podiatry. The podiatrist diagnosed I had one leg shorter than the other and provided me with shoe inserts which corrected this and relieved the pain. About five years ago a woman joined my club, she is a podiatrist specialising in biomechanics. She asked if I knew I pronated, I replied "yes when walking," she said "and when you're cycling." She has worked in the NHS and has a private practice. On seeing my NHS prescription she agreed this was all the NHS could offer. I saw her privately and over a period of months we built up the correct level of support for all my symptoms to disappear. As a result of correcting my gait and leg length my bike position had to be significantly altered - it had always been a compromise between the two different leg lengths!!
3. I'm currently recovering from an RTC, I was hit by a tractor at 35mph. Before getting an NHS physio referral I had already sought out a private physio who is ex NHS. I was later referred for NHS physio which was outsourced to a company working out of two rented rooms in a local sports centre! I was treated both privately and via the NHS. Frankly there is no comparison. My private physio examined in great detail each area of my injuries, manipulated muscles, tendons and as healing progressed examined new areas as further damage became apparent. The outsourced NHS physio checked my leg and shoulder for flexibility by watching me move and comment on where it hurt!
4. My suggestion is your hip pain could be caused by an issue anywhere from foot to hip. A good podiatrist should be able to identify the cause. If podiatry can't find anything go for a physio. Find a personal trainer to help with stretching and perhaps some weights
5. Finding the right professional isn't easy. The key to a real "cure" isn't just physical but also mental. Professionals who take the time to understand the person give far more benefit than those who simply fix the problem. The NHS provides a fix for these issues, the staff don't have time to look at your whole being, a good private practitioner does. At any age, but especially in later life, the whole being approach is essential.
6. I take glucosamine to aid joint suppleness and magnesium to aid muscle recovery and maintenance

 

[Gunk]

I have a labral tear in my left hip which gives me considerable discomfort on a longer walk but fortunately cycling doesn’t aggravate it.

 

[Bristolian]

Hi, 70 year old geriatric here I have a stiff right hip which gets better when I cycle. If I ride three or four times a week it hardly ever bothers me but if, like this past couple of weeks when I've only managed two days on the bike it's annoying - not painful but I know it's there. I thought it might be arthritis but an x-ray didn't show anything untoward so I'm just living with it.

 

[Mike Ayling]

Just lately my RHS hip occasionally is causing some discomfort- even pain. Yes it's old age- at 82 what can you expect!!

But .. As the discomfort is recent - can I put it to down to cycling?

Four years ago son emigrated and left behind his two road bikes ( 2x Genesis). Before selling the 2nd one I thought I'd try riding it. I was so naive I didnt know where the gear change was, or why does it have those strange spiky metal pedals!?

Four years later I do about 2500 miles a year and love it (and have 4 bikes in the garage - all esential, I'm sure you'll understand)

So is it age, cycling or both?

I certainly don't want to stop cycling- so that's not really an option.

But it might be - in extremis!

Are there any other OAPs out there that might comment or even advise?

You should join Royal Academy of Octogenarian Cyclists - see mypost