The knee pain is dull and stabbing. At first it only occurs when jogging or gardening, later also when resting. "Osteoarthritis causes the cartilage in the joints to wear away," explains Dr Sven Ostermeier, head orthopaedist and sports physician at the Gelenk-Klinik Gundelfingen. Normally, the cartilage in the knee acts as a kind of shock absorber that distributes the load evenly across the joint. In osteoarthritis patients, the cartilage gradually thins out - until, in the final stage, the bones rub directly against each other. The causes of wear and tear: excess weight, misalignment, illness or injury. "Understandably, many osteoarthritis patients tend to take it easy on the painful joint," says Prof Ostermeier. "But sufficient exercise is essential for our joints." Exercise pumps synovial fluid through the cartilage, which nourishes it and "lubricates" the joint. This can slow down the progression of knee osteoarthritis. Gentle forms of exercise such as cycling or swimming are particularly recommended to preserve the cartilage, in contrast to sports with rapid changes of direction such as tennis, football or badminton.
During cyclical pedalling on the bike, the cartilage releases waste products and absorbs new nutrients - by compressing and expanding the joint. Ostermeier recommends cyclists suffering from osteoarthritis: "Pay attention to your posture on the bike!" You can have your seat height, knee angle and foot position checked in a specialist shop; if they are optimised, you should be able to cycle without pain. When travelling, choose gears that are as light as possible so that the load on your knee joint remains low. An e-bike can also be a good alternative for patients with advanced stages of knee osteoarthritis. Only one thing is taboo: "If you have acute knee pain, you should leave your bike at home!"
