Is it suitable for the elderly to ride Electric Bike?
When it comes to electric bike, many people may think of them as a means of transportation for young people, in fact, riding an electric bike is not only a choice for young people, but also a perfect tool for the elderly to pursue free travel.
So, is it safe for the elderly to ride electric bike? What are the advantages? This article will reveal it to you one by one....
Strengthen the body and allow people with weak athletic ability to enjoy the same sports fun
As the elderly grow older, they often go out less frequently due to physical inconveniences or other reasons, and may rely on others or public transportation.
However, electric bike help them get rid of their depressed mentality and deteriorating health conditions in a more relaxed and labor-saving electric-assisted way.
A British study published in the internationally renowned public library of science journal "Plos" shows that regular use of electric bike by the elderly is beneficial to physical and mental health. Surprisingly, electric bike have better effects than traditional bike.
Because when riding, the elderly can move their legs and exercise their cardiopulmonary function, which helps improve blood circulation, strengthen muscle strength, and reduce joint pressure, thereby improving physical health and increasing happiness.
For many elderly people with weak physical strength, traditional bicycles may be difficult to ride due to lack of physical strength, while electric bike can provide assistance and can improve the lives of elderly people by increasing independence and mobility. All of this will have a significant impact on them.
Electric assist not only helps the elderly to enjoy healthy outdoor sports, but also does not have to worry about being unable to catch up with their peers due to limited physical fitness.
Convenient and economical way to travel
Traditional motor vehicles are expensive to maintain, and public transportation can involve significant time spent waiting. Electric bike have low maintenance costs, are easy to charge, and have enough battery life to meet daily short-distance travel needs.
For the elderly who only need to travel short distances, electric bike not only save transportation costs, but also avoid traffic congestion problems.
Moreover, the flexibility of electric bike allows seniors to not be limited by heavy traffic and parking difficulties. Whether traveling to the community, shopping at the market, or taking a walk in the park, electric bike can provide a convenient and fast solution for seniors.
Low-impact exercise to reduce joint burden
Then many people will say, don’t electric bike also need to be used on the joints? Will it cause damage to the joints?
Yes, long-term strenuous exercise for many elderly people will put a burden on their joints. However, compared to running and brisk walking, riding an electric bike is a low-impact exercise. The power-assist system can help the elderly reduce the pressure on their knees and joints during exercise, effectively reduce joint stress and reduce the risk of sports injuries.
Points to be cautious about:
- Warm up, as with most sports, it’s important to warm up to help avoid injuries caused by accidentally overstretching while riding.
- Pay attention to the riding environment and give priority to slow lanes or bicycle lanes with better road conditions to reduce the risk of accidents;
- Riding on rainy days will cause slippery roads and affect the braking performance of electric bike, so try to avoid riding on rainy days.
- Control the riding speed, maintain an appropriate speed, and avoid emergency braking. Sudden braking can easily cause vehicle body instability. Try to slow down in advance.
- Wear a helmet and pay attention to the lights when riding at night.
- Choose an appropriate riding distance based on your physical strength and health. Riding for a long time can easily lead to fatigue. You should stop and rest regularly.
- Try to keep each ride within 1 hour so that you feel comfortable and don’t overwork yourself the next day.
Final words
Age is not a limit, and there is no limit to the wonderful life. Electric bike are an excellent way for the elderly to fight diseases, manage existing conditions, improve mental health, and make travel easier and more convenient.
But you have to decide whether you need it based on your own situation~
