Is Cycling Good For Plantar Fasciitis?
Plantar fasciitis is a prevalent foot ailment that can significantly affect your ability to carry out your daily tasks. This condition causes discomfort, ranging from mild to severe, and if left unaddressed, it can persist for up to a year.
Wearing inappropriate shoes is a key factor that can heighten your chances of experiencing this condition. It is crucial to opt for cycling shoes that offer excellent arch support as they help alleviate any strain on the plantar fascia. By choosing the right footwear, you can significantly minimize the risk of developing these issues.
It’s a low-impact exercise
Cycling is a fantastic form of exercise that offers a range of benefits for maintaining fitness. Not only is it a low-impact activity, but it also supports cardiovascular health and respiratory function. By incorporating cycling into your routine, you can improve your heart rate and enhance your overall well-being.
Cycling also reduces the stress on your feet and joints, making it an excellent option for runners with plantar fasciitis. While running puts up to four times your body weight through your feet, cycling eliminates this impact, allowing you to continue exercising without putting additional pressure on your feet and ankles.
However, it’s important to pedal correctly and wear shoes that are properly fitted. If you’re not careful, your leg may extend too far straight while pedaling, straining your feet and causing pain.
It’s good for your heart
Cycling is a great form of cardiovascular exercise that can improve your heart health and help you maintain a healthy weight. It’s also an effective way to reduce your risk of developing diseases like high blood pressure and diabetes.
Studies have found that cyclists’ cardiovascular systems become stronger over time, enabling them to work at a higher intensity and get more oxygen into the bloodstream quicker than people who don’t cycle.
Those who ride for at least 30 minutes per day will start to see benefits, but you can gradually increase your time spent cycling or your intensity level.
It’s a great way to improve your health, and it can boost your mood as well. It’s often combined with being outdoors and exploring new views, which can give you a sense of accomplishment that helps you feel happier.
It’s good for your lungs
Cycling is a great way to get your heart and lungs going. This type of exercise can reduce your risk of cardiovascular diseases, including stroke and high blood pressure.
It also strengthens your heart muscles and lowers your resting pulse. This helps your body cope with stress better and keeps you feeling healthier.
A cyclist’s legs do most of the work when pedalling a bike, but it also uses muscle attached to the thighbone (femur) and shinbone (tibia) for extra leverage.
Lung capacity is increased by up to 5-15% during cycling, which means you can go faster for less effort. This improves your lung function and prevents problems like sleep apnoea.
This is especially helpful if you suffer from CPOD – an illness that causes breathing difficulties – because it makes it easier to exhale completely. This means more oxygen is getting to your lungs, which is vital for good health.
It’s good for your bones
The bones in your skeleton are made up of minerals, mostly calcium and phosphate, which are woven together in a flexible collagen-protein matrix. This makes your skeletal system lightweight and mobile, but also strong enough to absorb impact without breaking.
Whether you’re racing or just cruising, it’s important to keep your skeleton strong and healthy. A good exercise routine can help you maintain your bone density and improve your overall health and wellbeing.
Sprint cyclists have better bone density than distance cyclists because of the high forces they create for short periods of time. But this may not be the whole story.
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