Electric bicycles are good for the health of the elderly

Regularly riding an electric bike can help older people improve their cognitive function, according to a British study.

The study, led by researchers from the Universities of Reading and Oxford Brooks, lasted two months and assessed the health of about 50 older men and women between the ages of 83 and XNUMX.

Classic and electric bicycles

All participants who were new to the practice of the cycle were divided into three groups. On an e-bike, the first did three 30-minute sessions per week. The second did the same program, but on traditional bikes. The members of the third group did not ride a bicycle during the experiment.

If improvements in cognitive function were observed in the first two groups, the researchers found that the group that used the electric bike had a greater sense of well-being, likely due to the relative ease of exercise.

 We thought that those who used traditional pedal bikes would greatly improve their physical and mental health because they would give their cardiovascular system the best workout possible. Instead, people who have used e-bikes have told us that they feel more comfortable doing the requested action. The fact that the group was able to get out on a bike, even without much physical effort, is likely to improve the psychological well-being of people.”  Details Louise-Anne Leyland, a researcher at University College London, was at the origin of the project.

On a European scale, this UK study is not the first to highlight the health benefits of an electric bike. In 2018, researchers at the University of Basel reached similar conclusions..