Tight hips and pain in joints - who to see?

[JVB]

So,

I'm finding that I'm increasingly getting sore knee joints and that if I haven't ridden for a couple of days then for the first 20 minutes of riding my hips feel very tight and I struggle to open then and really ride properly.

I don't really have time to go to a class like pilates or anything, are there any exercises I can do at home, or a specialist I could go and see occasionally?

Thought about sports massage, chiro, physio but don't know much about them.

Also, any supplements I can take?

Thanks for advice

 

[Tallante]

Who to see?
You won't like this answer but it's 'all of them'.

I suffered with similar problems a few years ago and have realised that aching and tight joints are very difficult to diagnose.

A GP might tell you it's arthritis.

A scan or x-ray might show up some problem in the joints or spine but will show nothing if the problem is muscular.

A physio will know which muscles are tight and can give you exercises to help with those over a period of time but he won't necessarily know if the cause is due to back problems or joint problems.

Chiropractors and osteos are very useful in relieving symptoms if you know that the problem is due to misalignment of joints (I go every month); but they can't 'fix' underlying posture problems aggravated by riding.

All of them can help you to understand the problem, one of them might identify it straight away, but my experience is that it's a long road.

The cheap option is to start Pilates once a week; the stretching exercises are just as important as the core-building exercises. Learn what is easy or hard for you and then try and find out why you find some things difficult (google is good here).

Good luck.

 

[Sprout]

I think Tallante is absolutely right - you could probably benefit from seeing all of the above!

I think if it was me, I would start by seeing a physio, and although time is short for you, Pillates would be a great help, as would swimming.

I have terrible joint problems and constant pain, so I really feel for you, Good Luck.