Author: eugene

Can you cycle with knee osteoarthritis?

Posted on by eugene

Knee osteoarthritis is a type of arthritis where the knee cartilage wears. This leads to bones of the joints rubbing against each other, resulting in pain, stiffness, swelling and sometimes causes bone spurs. Knee osteoarthritis makes it hard to carry everyday activities like walking or climbing stairs.

Causes of Knee Osteoarthritis

  • Age is a major cause of this condition since the cartilage doesn’t regenerate healthily as the person grows old.
  • Weight can lead to this condition as weight increases pressure on all joints, especially the knee. Knee Osteoarthritis can be inherited too.
  • Recurring stress injuries. This results from the type of job a person has. Squatting, kneeling, or lifting heavy weights puts more pressure on the knee, and this may result in knee osteoarthritis.
  • Gender. Women of 55 years and above are more likely to develop knee osteoarthritis compared to men.
  • Athletes involved in tennis, soccer, or long-distance running may be at higher risk for developing knee osteoarthritis.
  • People suffering from other illnesses like rheumatoid arthritis are more likely to develop knee osteoarthritis.

Managing Osteoarthritis through Cycling

There are several ways in which osteoarthritis knee can be managed. Weight loss, corticosteroid injections into the knee, using braces, among other methods, can be used to treat this condition.

We will focus on cycling a was of treating and managing knee osteoarthritis. This is because cycling is a natural way of managing this condition.

Before starting cycling, make sure you know what kind of arthritis is affecting the knee. Since the two most common types are rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis and each, require special considerations.

Finding the right bike and using it correctly is also important. Following guidelines will help in choosing and using a bike correctly. Try several bikes and choose one that feels comfortable. A recumbent bike is recommended for people with knee osteoarthritis.

After choosing your bike, set it up correctly. This is because having seat height in the wrong position can cause more harm than good. Ensure the seat is parallel to the ground and not tipped forward or back.

Warm-up. Start cycling slowly and increase speed gently and cycle within your limit. Avoid cycling too fast and hard as this may cause more harm to your knee. Start with a short ride and increase distant gently as you progress. Be consistent with your cycling. This keeps the knee in movement and prevents stiffness. Take days off to rest. On the rest day, you can stretch a bit to stay active and prevent knee stiffness.

In case you experience any pain, consult your physical therapist to know what you might be doing wrong and correct it. Knee osteoarthritis can be your worst nightmare, but treating and managing it is what matters.

Racing: Amateur Karting

Posted on by eugene

Amateur karting is most likely the cheapest and most efficient way to give everyone a good taste of what racing actually it and how it works. At a basic level you don’t need to buy anything, the circuit will provide a renting go-kart, the helmet and the essential, necessary equipment.

For those who think safety is a concern at local karting racing tracks, that is a thing of the past. Most of them follow strict safety measures; the stewards will not let go of improper behaviour. Most circuits also have basic medical facilities in case of need.

Karting for Kids

If you think your son or daughter could be a racing talent, amateur karting is the first step that they can take. Since the Sixties, when go-karting developed internationally, all the great Formula 1 drivers came from there. Lewis Hamilton, now the biggest all-time winner of the British GP, is no exception.

In some cases, they started with homemade karts and racing by themselves, because they were so young that there were no rivals available. Ayrton Senna, Michael Schumacher and Fernando Alonso belong to this rank, all of them being “established” at kart racing at the age of 5.

The best and luckiest of them, of course, quickly changed to serious competition. And nothing, aside from talent, commitment, passion and availability, can stop your kid of doing the same.

Amateur Racing for Grown-Ups

Maybe you realise you’re too late to get to Formula 1 or to become a professional racing driver. Notwithstanding, if you feel the need for speed, and especially the thrill of going to wheel-to-wheel disputes corner after corner, amateur karting is the experience you’re looking. You might contact the nearest circuit and ask for Arrive ‘n’ Drive events, where you can register, show up, pay, listen to the circuit rules and tips carefully during the briefing, and have your seat.

Alternatively, you might be able to get some friends together on a Saturday or Sunday and race. What about creating your own amateur karting championship? You could elaborate a list of karting circuits, and each one of them would be a championship stage. Choose a points system, preferably a points-for-all, instead of forcing everyone into the top-ten like F1. Contact your friends, and theirs, and set up your championship! If you don’t want to repeat circuits along the way, ask if it is possible to use different track options in various stages of the championship. If you become a regular visitor, they will not mind changing the tyre barriers for you.

Don’t forget to collect some extra pence from the drivers to get shiny, good-looking trophies for the winners. Good luck, and have fun!