E-Bike
There are many health benefits of riding e-bikes for seniors, no matter how much you rode a bike in the past or not. Senior riders will find that an e-bike is a safe and effective way for them to get out of the house and have a nice bike ride, without having to worry about their balance or even about getting tired too quickly.
With age, you often have to worry more about some of the age-related health conditions that come up. When you get out and be active, especially on an e-bike, you will find that it can provide a ton of great health benefits along the way. Some of the health benefits of riding e-bikes for seniors include:
Prevents Disease
Riding an e-bike is going to be considered a type of aerobic exercise. This means that it is going to be effective at helping you to improve your cardiovascular health, meaning the blood flow, lungs, and heart all at once. Improving your cardiovascular health is going to be important no matter your age when you get started.
When seniors decide to go on an e-bike most days of the week, they can improve their heart, which is going to help prevent a number of conditions like cancer, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease. Since many seniors are going to struggle to find a good form of exercise that is gentle enough for them while helping their heart, these conditions can be prevalent among them.
E-bikes are going to provide a good balance to the rider because you can choose the amount of pedal assist to make sure that you are getting your exercise without having to worry about additional strain on the body. For seniors who want to improve their heart health and add more activity to their lives, this can be the best option to choose.
Alleviate the Symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease
E-Bike
Some research points to how e-bike riding is going to be able to help alleviate some of the symptoms that we find with Parkinson’s disease. In 2003, researcher Jay Alberts went on a riding trip with one of his friends who was suffering from Parkinson’s. During that time, Alberts found that the friend was able to improve handwriting and motor functions through the trip.
Alberts was able to notice that his friend was able to move their legs more quickly on the tandem bike, with less fatigue, and that was the faster rate of motion that helped to manage some of the symptoms. Through more research, Alberts found that this movement would help to improve the motor functions in Parkinson’s patients by up to 35%.
E-bikes are able to provide a similar amount of assistance as the tandem bike can. This means that they will not be entirely reliant on the power of the human riding them and can give an extra boost. This stands to reason that the benefits between the two would be the same. If you or someone you know has Parkinson’s, then riding an e-bike could help reduce the symptoms.
Safe and Reliable
As we age, we often have to face the fact that we are going to be limited in terms of our options for transportation and in terms of our physical activities. Since driving can start to be dangerous as we get older, thanks to issues with motor control and declining vision, some seniors find that it will be off-limits to them.
The good news is that e-bike riding is safe and effective, even for those who are otherwise limited in the activities that they are able to do. It can even be used on those who have had major conditions and physical injuries, such as chronic pain, back problems, joint replacement, and artificial pacemakers to name a few. It is easy and simple to do as well.
You will really love how the e-bike is going to promote an active lifestyle, even for seniors. It is one of the best forms of exercise for seniors because it is so safe and effective and will be a good tool to use when it is time to build up their endurance and their strength as well. And since you won’t have to worry about balance, it is an activity you can do for years.
Improves Cognitive Function
E-Bike
One of the best benefits that come from e-bike riding is that it can help improve cognitive function, and there are studies that help prove this. Cognitive functions are going to be all of the processes that will carry out mental tasks to process information and help with memory and problem solving. Having good cognition means that we have good health.
Making sure that your brain is healthy and strong will be a good way to prevent and manage some of the horrible degenerative diseases out there, including Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s. In one study published in the PLOS One Journal, it was shown that e-bikes could be more beneficial for boosting the brain compared to traditional bikes.
This particular test had researchers test the cognitive benefits of riding outside, measuring the cognitive function among 100 adults ages 50 to 83. None of the participants were bike riders to begin with. They were then split into three groups.
- One rode a traditional bike three times a week for half an hour each for eight weeks.
- The second group did the same, but on an e-bike
- The third didn’t take any rides.
Both cycling groups saw a huge improvement in cognition, and the e-bike riders showed a score that was equivalent to the traditional bike, even though there is more physical exertion needed for a traditional bike.
Choosing the Right E-Bike for Your Needs
As a senior, finding a safe and effective, and fun, way to get outside and be active can be so important. This is where the e-bike can come into play. When you see all of the above health benefits of riding e-bikes for seniors, you will want to run out right away and go get one for yourself to enjoy too!
