Cycling with knee osteoarthritis

With osteoarthritis of the knee, the cartilage in the knee joint changes. The symptoms are pain and stiffness in the knee. The stiffness is especially felt when someone starts moving again after sitting or lying for a long time. There are periods in which the pain is worse and periods in which the pain is less (source: Thuisarts.nl). Almost half of the people in the Netherlands with osteoarthritis suffer from knee osteoarthritis. It is important to move regularly with knee osteoarthritis, but not to strain it. Cycling with osteoarthritis is a good way to exercise. Read in this article more about cycling with knee osteoarthritis and view experiences of some Van Raam customers with knee osteoarthritis.

Cycling with knee osteoarthritis on a special needs bicycle

Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis. Cycling usually results in the least joint pain for people with knee osteoarthritis or knee arthritis. Cycling with knee arthritis means that your are active without stressing your knee joint. When you're cycling, your legs don't have to carry your weight. A special needs bike is a good option if you can't cycle on a regular bike with two wheels. Van Raam has several adapted bicycles that are suitable for people with a disability. The specializations of Van Raam are tricycles, mobility scooters, tandems, side-by-side tandems, wheelchair bikes, transport bikes, walking aids and low entry bikes or comfort bikes. On most Van Raam bicycles pedal support is optional, read more about this on the pedal support page.
 
Take a look at the Van Raam special needs bicycles below.

Tricycles

Tricycles

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Wheelchair bikes

Wheelchair bikes

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Tandems

Tandems

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Side-by-side tandems

Side-by-side tandems

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Low step through bikes

Low step through bikes

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Walking aid

Walking aid

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Electric mobility scooter bike

Electric mobility scooter bike

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Transport bikes

Transport bikes

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Cycling on a Van Raam tricycle with knee osteoarthritis

Customer experience: cycling with knee osteoarthritis on a tricycle

Monique is 58 years old and lives in the city Den Haag (the Netherlands). She has knee osteoarthritis on both knees and has two braces. On the website www.knieartroseonline.nl you will find her story (in Dutch) about what she experiences every day. Monique is very positive minded, crazy about cats and walking on the beach. In her newest blog, she writes about her new tricycle with pedal support.

The search for a suitable bicycle 

"I live so nice here, close to the beach, the dunes, the forest and the polder. There are a lot of nice things to do in the summer in Kijkduin, but I’m not able to go and that is upsetting me."

It became the right time to break the circle and Monique (her friends call her Mo), knew what she wanted, a bicycle! De doctor advised her to get a bicycle with electric pedal support.

" I’m not allowed to put a lot of strength on my knees or struggling with the wind. A bicycle with pedal support is exactly what I wanted, but I wanted better or better said, one extra wheel, because a tricycle  would probably be provided by the WMO organization (Social Support Act)."

"My knees didn’t hurt and I felt a big freedom and thankfulness for that I could use this fantastic bike from the municipality." - Monique
Cycling with knee osteoarthritis on a Van Raam special needs bike
Mo with her blue Midi tricycle by Van Raam

Tricycle with pedal support for Mo

In October 2016 was the moment there for Monique, she could pick up her Midi tricycle with pedal support in the store.

"And there was my beautiful new tricycle. A beautiful purple/blue color with a cool basket on the back and a small saddle."
 

The first ride with the tricycle

"The big cycling adventure could start and my first ride from the store back home was fantastic. My knees didn’t hurt and I felt a big freedom and thankfulness for that I could use this fantastic bike from the community. I felt some healthy muscle pains the next morning, but that made sense as the movements were new for my body. Because although there is a support, you really need to step. In case of interest for this bike, my tricycle is from Van Raam, Specialist in unique special needs bicycles."

Do you want to know more about the tricycle from Mo? Visit de page of de Midi tricycle.

Would you like to read more experiences of Monique about her tricycle? Read her extensive customer experience about the Midi tricycle.

Customer experience Midi trike
Customer experience Van Raam Balance low entry bike - Eva Richards
Eva cycles on a green Balance low entry bike.

Customer experience: cycling with knee osteoarthritis on a low entry bike

Eva Richards from South Wales has a Van Raam Balance low entry bike. Eva has severe osteoarthritis in both knees and cycling on a regular bike with two wheels is not possible. After some online research she ended up at Van Raam and came from South Wales to Varsseveld for a test ride.

She finally ordered the bike from a local dealer, who also provided the service and warranty. Read more about the use of the Balance low entry bike in Eva's customer experience.

Experience with Balance
"I noticed how well I could ride a “sit back” bike. I did some online research, visited the Van Raam website and came across the Van Raam Balance bike."- Eva Richards
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