With arthrosis of the knee joint, exercise on an exercise bike is not only acceptable, but is also a good assistant in rehabilitation. The presence of this disease can make every movement during training very painful. However, in order to prevent further destruction of the joint, sports exercises cannot be abandoned. An exercise bike does not have a strong impact on the knee joints, so people who have suffered joint injuries can also exercise on it.
Development of arthrosis
Arthrosis (gonarthrosis) is characterized by the following phenomena: the volume and composition of the synovial fluid changes, the articular cartilage becomes thinner, and its elasticity is lost. As a result, when walking between the surfaces of the bones in the joint, friction occurs, which causes pain.
To avoid pain, the motor function of the affected joint is involuntarily limited. Stagnation occurs in which bone and muscle tissues do not receive the proper amount of nutrients. As a result, the cartilage becomes ossified and osteophytes grow. Pain occurs during exercise and at rest. Arthrogenic contracture occurs, that is, a restriction in the movement of the joint, which does not allow the limb to fully flex and extend.
In the initial stage of the disease, the cause of joint stiffness is pain that occurs when walking. There is still an opportunity to avoid contracture during this period by regularly developing the joint and performing special exercises.
At an advanced stage of gonarthrosis, the motor function of the knee is hampered by overgrown osteophytes. The joint space gradually narrows, bone tissue is deformed, and the shape of the bones changes. There is a sharp reduction in mobility. When the joint is completely destroyed, the bones fuse together, arthrosis progresses to the next stage of disease - ankylosis, which can only be eliminated through surgery. There are many reasons for the pathological condition of articular cartilage, including:
- damage due to injuries and excessive stress;
- processes of stagnation, the cartilage does not receive the necessary substances.
People suffering from the disease must know its cause. If arthrosis occurs after an injury with accompanying acute manifestations of the inflammatory process, you need to achieve remission, and then start exercising on an exercise bike. If there is no inflammation and obvious degenerative-dystrophic pathologies in the joint, you can begin doing the physical exercises that the body needs so much.
Intensity of physical activity
Movement is mandatory when drawing up a complex of treatment for a disease. This is implemented in training on simulators, gymnastics, and exercise therapy. Physical activity is necessary for many reasons:
- overcoming contracture;
- prevention of muscle atrophy;
- fight against excess weight;
- stimulating blood circulation to eliminate congestion.
Not all sports are approved by medicine for arthrosis. It is forbidden to engage in weightlifting, as it accelerates joint deformation. To avoid injuries, running, volleyball, hockey, and contact sports, including boxing, are excluded. The most effective way to restore the knee joint is to exercise on an exercise bike, with positive aspects noted:
- good development of not only the knee, but also the hip and ankle joints;
- strengthening the muscle tissue of the back and abdominals;
- eliminating the load on the joints (body weight), since movements are carried out in a sitting position;
- the possibility of dosing the load, choosing the optimal training regimen, depending on the stage of development of the disease.
With smooth forward movements, the risk of cartilage injury is eliminated. The muscles of the thigh and lower leg are activated, blood circulation improves, which has a positive effect on sore joints. Regular training affects their mobility.
Signs of dystrophic changes in joints
- Fast fatiguability;
- Pain that gets worse with movement;
- Weakness and feeling of pressure in the knees;
- Limitation of physical activity.
Many patients deliberately refuse to exercise, believing that physical activity will cause discomfort. However, giving up sports will only worsen the condition and accelerate the development of pathological processes.
Training activates metabolism and tissue regeneration; in addition, exercise on an exercise bike will help normalize weight.
The training schedule and load should be selected by a doctor. It is necessary to understand the difference between pain and discomfort.
It is strictly forbidden to train through pain, but minor discomfort may be present.
Exercise bike and exercise regime
You should consult your doctor about exercising on an exercise bike. If swelling of the knees, swelling in the legs, and redness of the skin are observed, it means that the disease is exacerbating, accompanied by inflammation. During this period, you should not rush into physical exercise.
If you have had an injury or surgery on the knee joint, recovery is gradual. You should start by tensing and relaxing the muscles to prevent their atrophy, but do not move the joint.
You should increase the load and start exercising on exercise machines only under the supervision of a rehabilitation specialist. With grade 3 development of gonarthrosis, the doctor decides whether these classes are necessary and determines the optimal load. At stages 1 and 2 of the disease, training will be much more intense.
Exercising at home is much more convenient than going to the gym, especially when short but frequent approaches are recommended. The initial stage of classes is best carried out in a physical therapy room, guided by the instructions of a specialist who will tell you about choosing the optimal regimen and dosing the load. There is a training scheme for the simulator:
- The duration of initial training is 3−5 minutes. Maintain a moderate pace with low-intensity exercise. Do sets every hour.
- Exercise in this mode for ten days, then the duration and load gradually increase.
- After 3 months, the training duration is 40 minutes with an optimal number of 5 sessions per day.
Those who exercise at home need to be regularly examined, adjusting the load depending on the dynamics of the disease. If the condition worsens, you need to reduce the amount of training or even stop until remission is restored.
Exercises on an exercise bike are the best way to maintain motor function and muscle tone, stop the development of the disease and delay joint deformation. Using an exercise bike allows you to optimally distribute the load compared to walking. This method of training is safer than cycling, but you should not start training without consulting a doctor, who will determine the amount of load that is optimal for each stage of arthrosis development.
When will exercise on an exercise bike benefit you?
It is the knee joints that experience serious stress every day, because it helps a person walk and supports the body in an upright position. Exercise on an exercise bike for arthrosis of the knee joint should be strictly dosed.
It is extremely rare that the disease is not accompanied by inflammation. Most often, the clinical picture requires anti-inflammatory therapy, and only after this the doctor allows the patient to start training on an exercise bike.
The doctor is obliged to determine the optimal balance between the intensity of training and the patient’s condition so that the exercises have a positive effect and do not harm the knee joint.
When it comes to arthrosis, sport is a vital part of the treatment regimen. Only physical activity will provide tissue nutrition, stop degenerative processes and restore motor activity.
Way to improve your health - cycling
Many people are interested in whether it is possible to ride a bicycle with arthrosis of the knees. Doctors approve of this method of recovery, even recommend it. But you should know that riding such vehicles may be unsafe. To avoid harming yourself, you need to consider a few points:
- Travel on roads with smooth surfaces. When going up and down, joints and muscles may become overtired, but on an exercise bike the load is distributed evenly.
- For travel, you should choose a sporty model.
- The installation height of the saddle must correspond to the full extension of the leg in the lowest position, otherwise the pain will increase in the muscles and joints.
- Avoid cycling on rough terrain. Jumping on uneven surfaces can cause you to fall and get seriously injured.
- Cycling is pleasant in dry, warm weather, and the exercise machine can be used in any weather.
- Travel on roads with smooth surfaces. When going up and down, joints and muscles may become overtired, but on an exercise bike the load is distributed evenly.
- For travel, you should choose a sporty model.
- The installation height of the saddle must correspond to the full extension of the leg in the lowest position, otherwise the pain will increase in the muscles and joints.
- Avoid cycling on rough terrain. Jumping on uneven surfaces can cause you to fall and get seriously injured.
- Cycling is pleasant in dry, warm weather, and the exercise machine can be used in any weather.
So, if you decide to engage in cycling and have a good bike, you can use it for health purposes. You just need to maintain a moderate pace, limit the distance and duration of travel, and also do not forget about safety precautions.
Sports for arthrosis disease
Walking, Nordic walking and race walking will be of great benefit. In winter you can go skiing and visit the swimming pool. Classes in the gym will be useful if the instructor determines the load on the joints and the types of training.
If you have arthrosis, you can perform shallow squats. Exercising with dumbbells or hand weights will strengthen the muscles in your arms and back. It is not advisable to squat completely.
Visiting the gym should be regular so that the sore knee gets used to the load, albeit limited. Allowed:
- stretching exercises;
- partial squats;
- calm walking;
- different types of slopes.
Golf is interesting. These are leisurely walks, alternating with bending and a minimum of squats. The complex results in effective restoration of motor functions.
Swimming is used for both preventive and therapeutic purposes for various pathologies of the skeletal system of the body. Swimming is useful even in advanced forms of the disease: muscle spasms are relieved and joint pain is soothed. The musculoskeletal system relaxes, and the muscles and ligaments are strengthened. Swimming is a unique sport because it has no contraindications.
When deciding on jogging with arthrosis, the answer will be ambiguous and only a doctor can answer it. Running is prohibited, but light jogging can be done at the initial stage of the disease. If you have arthrosis of the 2nd degree, it is prohibited to engage in this type of sport.
Why is pedaling best?
There are reasons for this:
- a safe stationary device guarantees an insignificant possibility of microtrauma and damage that cannot be avoided when driving (especially if the road is uneven);
- Personal adjustment of an exercise bike, especially a modern exercise bike with a good computer, allows you to pedal smoothly (if you have arthrosis, you should not press the pedals with force).
Also watch the video below:
As you can see, an exercise bike is useful even for various ailments and can be an excellent helper. The main thing is to comply with the appropriate training standards, listen to the instructions of specialists and listen sensitively to your own body.
