Weight training

Murr X

Alex_Simmons/RST wrote:

Cyclocross (and the training for cyclocross) would be a far better choice for addressing BMD concerns than weighlifting.

I do know that some marathon runners (male and female) can have low BMD even with a fair bit of stress placed on skeletal structure, but perhaps generally fare better than endurance cyclists. I have to say I am not sure of any studies to show this but have known several runners that have osteopenia and none that have been checked were OK. From what I have seen weightlifters have very good BMD in the spine.

I am of the conclusion that it is the stress and effects of endurance training that is the culprit due to sweating out calcium, lowering testosterone, increased cortisol and perhaps with oxidative stress. I am not entirely convinced that trying to increase bone density by inducing stress on the bones is particularly effective when undergoing hard endurance training at the same time.

If anyone here has had a DEXA scan feel free to pitch in and share your scan results along with training status, I am always interested to hear peoples experiences with this.

Thsnks


Murr X

Murr X

LJAR wrote:

Murr X wrote:

Thanks LJAR,

Would you consider yourself more trained in rowing or cycling?

MurrX

At the time I was much better trained in rowing than cycling - so of course specificity was amply demonstrated.

But given how leg heavy rowing is as a sport I was still shocked at the difference. I put it down to the shorter stroke length and higher cadence at the time.

That coupled with only using on leg per stroke whereas in rowing they are both firing at the same time, followed by a short recovery period.

What surprised me was how much my legs hurt. I was barely sweating or breathing hard, but I couldn't pedal any more - very strange.

Thanks for this LJAR.

I suspect the reverse would be the case with me - being trained only in cycling.

Murr X

scapaslow

Murr X wrote:

I am of the conclusion that it is the stress and effects of endurance training that is the culprit due to sweating out calcium, lowering testosterone, increased cortisol and perhaps with oxidative stress. I am not entirely convinced that trying to increase bone density by inducing stress on the bones is particularly effective when undergoing hard endurance training at the same time.

Murr X

I'd have to agree. How else can a sedentary person, who is hardly liable to be doing much in the way of jarring impacts in their daily routine, have a higher BMD than a cyclist who would do just as much when not cycling?

There probably is a genetic factor here as well. My wife recently took part in a University research study on genetics and underwent lots of different tests/scans and was pronounced to have osteoporosis (she's not a cyclist).

I think the problem is that unless you have a scan, you will not know whether it is a problem until it's too late. I've started taking a supplement just in case.

Hopefully, research will provide an answer in time.

However, Alexs' cyclocross suggestion does sound like a good excuse for a new bike

Alex_Simmons/RST

scapaslow wrote:

Murr X wrote:

However, Alexs' cyclocross suggestion does sound like a good excuse for a new bike

That was the idea.

Honestly, if BMD became a serious enough an issue, then you would change what training you do, perhaps less cycling and do more other stuff like jogging. If doing competitive cycling, then it might be confined to less crash risk events like TTs.