“It was an honor to be a part of two Olympic games,” Dr. Thorburn says. “To be in the Olympic Village, and to watch other events, such as gymnastics and basketball, was quite memorable.”
Supporting the Arthritis Community
Although Dr. Thorburn is retired from the professional racing circuit, she continues to compete in arthritis-connected charity rides for various groups, including the Arthritis Foundation. Knowing how it feels to have osteoarthritis in her knee also helps her understand what many of her patients are going through.
“I hope it makes me more relatable,” Dr. Thorburn says. “I do encourage my arthritis patients to keep moving and to do low-impact activities, such as walking, swimming or riding a stationary bike, to keep their muscles strong and their joints flexible.”
Dr. Thorburn continues to ride 8–10 miles two days a week from her home to her job at the Palo Alto Medical Foundation.
“I bike commute as much as possible,” Dr. Thorburn says. “It’s not only an exercise that I enjoy, but it also helps reduce air pollution.”
Linda Childers is a health writer located in the San Francisco Bay Area.
