Daily Bicycling in Older Adults May be Effective to Reduce Fall Risks—A Case-Control Study

Abstract

Older adults gain many health benefits from riding bicycles regularly. We aimed to explore whether older persons who ride bicycles regularly have better balance than controls. Balance control and voluntary stepping were assessed in 20 older adults aged 65-85 years who live in an agricultural community village and who ride bicycles regularly, and 30 age- and gender-matched nonbicycle riders (NBR). Self-reported function and fear of fall were also assessed. Bicycle riders (BR) showed significantly better balance, faster voluntary stepping, and better self-reported advanced lower-extremity function compared with NBR. The results might suggest that bicycling regularly preserves balance control and speed of voluntary stepping in older adults because bicycling might maintain specific balance coordination patterns. The results should be treated with caution as bicycle riders were older adults who selected an active lifestyle (i.e., bicycling as well as living in an agricultural village) that may bias the results.

Safer cycling in older age (SiFAr): a protocol of a randomized controlled trial

“…Cycling is an affordable, environmentally friendly and convenient form of physical activity that is associated with health and functional benefits, even for older adults with chronic conditions [1,2]. Several studies showed a positive effect of cycling on cardiovascular health, quality of life [3], fear of falling [4], functional and cognitive status and metabolic responses in middle-aged and older persons [2,5]. In addition, cycling in older age can improve balance [4,6] and executive functions [7] and reduce the risk of allcause mortality [8].…”

“…Several studies showed a positive effect of cycling on cardiovascular health, quality of life [3], fear of falling [4], functional and cognitive status and metabolic responses in middle-aged and older persons [2,5]. In addition, cycling in older age can improve balance [4,6] and executive functions [7] and reduce the risk of allcause mortality [8]. A recent systematic review including observatory and experimental studies suggests with moderate evidence that even a regular use of E-Bikes promotes cardiorespiratory fitness [9].…”

Development and piloting of a perturbation stationary bicycle robotic system that provides unexpected lateral perturbations during bicycling (the PerStBiRo system)

“…This is not surprising since pedaling and walking are lower-extremity rhythmic tasks with similar reflex modulation [24][25][26], and related neural circuitry may be operating in both tasks [27,28]. We were also motivated by recent works that found that older people who bicycle outdoors regularly have better balance control than age-matched controls [29,30], and the amount of outdoor bicycling was associated with the degree of balance control [31].…”

“…Before and after 20 training sessions, we measured postural stability in upright standing. The participants were instructed to stand barefoot as still as possible on a force platform in a standardized stance, their feet close together with their hands crossed behind their back [29]. Five 30-s eyes-closed (EC) assessments were conducted for each participant.…”

An Immersive Motor Protocol for Frailty Rehabilitation

“…Stationary cycle exercises have a positive effect on weight shifts and gait, as well as the functioning of lower body limbs and a reduction of fall risk (44–46). Cycling also contributes to maintenance of specific balance coordination patterns and could help to preserve balance control and speed of voluntary stepping in the elderly (47). Walking is very close to cycling; indeed, they are both cyclical and activate agonist-antagonist muscles (48–50).…”