Q: Is 'retro-cycling' a good activity for individuals with knee problems?
A: Retro or backward walking and jogging are sometimes recommended as appropriate aerobic and leg-strengthening activities for injured individuals, particularly those with knee ailments. This is largely due to the observation that backward gait is associated with lower loads on the knee joint compared to normal walking and jogging. Many physical therapists use "retro-cycling" (i.e., reverse pedal¬ing on the bike) as a component of the rehab protocol for their "knee patients." However, relatively little research has been conducted to actual¬ly measure the loads placed on the knee joint during retro-cycling.
Research conducted at the Palo Alto Health Care System in Palo Alto, Calif., revealed that backward pedaling may, in fact, be appropriate for individuals with certain knee conditions but potentially unsafe for others. It was found that retro-cycling produced lower tibiofemoral compressive loads and higher patellofe moral compressive loads compared to normal, forward pedaling. They also observed that when the study participants' knees were fully extended during the retro-cycling, the anterior-posterior knee shear forces were greatly reduced. Based on the finding of this study, it may be beneficial for individuals with menisci damage or osteoarthritis to engage in retro-cycling. Backward pedaling cycling can, however, produce higher compressive forces between the patella (knee) and tibia (shin), compared to forward pedaling, and therefore is probably not the best choice for individuals experiencing patellofemoral pain or recovering from an anterior-cruciate-ligament injury or surgical reconstruction.
Source: Bryant, Cedric X. ACE FitnessMatters, November/December 2004.
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