That’s the question health writer Gretchen Reynolds tries to answer in this piece in the New York Times. Reynolds cites a study done at the University of Oklahoma, which looked at the bone density of 32 male, competitive bike riders, most in their late 20s and early 30s, and compared it to the bones of age-matched controls, men who were active but not competitive athletes. Bone scans showed that almost all of the cyclists had significantly less bone density in the spine than the control group. Wait, there’s more. Another study cited by Reynolds followed competitive cyclists over the course of a race season in Colorado. The riders, aged 27 to 44, began with slightly below-average bone density. By the conclusion of the race season, they had lost a significant portion of their total, already-low bone mass in their hips, though not in their spines. At a three-month follow-up exam, however, they showed a small amount of bone recovery in the hips.
Health, fitness and lifestyle tips for people over 50 who still like to play hard
Saturday, May 31, 2025