Cycling, even with e-bikes, may reduce risk of health conditions
Published on: Sunday, April 16, 2023
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ETX Daily Up, FMT
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Using an electric bicycle could reduce the risk of heart attack by 40%, experts say. (Envato Elements pic)
And contrary to what one might assume, the use of an electric bicycle is almost as beneficial to health as the use of a “traditional” bicycle.
If riding a conventional bicycle remains one of the best ways to stay healthy at any age, using an electric bicycle also has many benefits. It could reduce the risk of heart attack by 40%, the researchers say.
In addition, regular activity – for instance, riding an electric bike between 10km and 15km per day – could also reduce the risk of cancer, diabetes, cholesterol, dementia, and Alzheimer’s disease.
The scientists analysed data from 1,250 electric bike riders and 629 conventional bike users. This data – time spent cycling, distance travelled, and heart rate – was collected using activity trackers worn by participants over a four-week period.
Increasing your heart rate during exercise, especially above 110 beats per minute, strengthens your cardiovascular system. The data collected showed that 35% of conventional bicycle users and 22.4% of electric cyclists reach the threshold of 150 minutes per week of moderate to intense activity, which is the objective set by the World Health Organization (WHO) for physical activity.
Even if the level of physical activity is less intense, using an electric bicycle contributes to the overall cardio exercise done by an individual to improve their physical condition and reduce the risk of serious diseases.
“Contrary to many preconceptions, the numbers show that muscles and the cardiovascular system are almost as engaged with electrically assisted riding as they are by conventional cycling,” explains Dr Hedwig Theda Boeck, who was involved in the study.
The use of electric bicycles for leisure or for commuting to and from work, therefore, contributes to an individual’s overall activity that boosts the heart rate and reduces the risk of serious illnesses, particularly in certain demographics that are more sedentary, such as the elderly.
The researchers also found that more than a third of the electric bike users who participated in the study had a medical history of heart attack, high blood pressure, or wear on joints.
Electric bicycles, thus, are a useful aid for these individuals to start an exercise routine or adopt a more active lifestyle.
