Cycling Can Reverse the Aging Process?

Submitted by Sophie Gale on Thu, 03/15/2018 - 12:26
Forums: 
The First Circle: Your Physical Health and Your Mental Welfare

This article is full of annoying ads, but the information looks substantial.

Here’s How Cycling Can Slow Down the Aging Process - New research finds that older adults who bike can reverse muscle decline and keep their immune systems strong

"It might not grant eternal youth, but cycling, scientists have found, can slow the aging process and keep your muscles and immune system healthy well into your golden years. Aging, it turns out, can do a number on your muscles. Humans typically lose muscle mass as they get older. Fat and connective tissue also start invading, affecting the muscles’ ability to contract. Furthermore, muscles can no longer suck up oxygen at the same rates. However, a new study questioned if these age-related muscle declines are inevitable, or if regular exercise—cycling, in this case—can slow down or even reverse them."

ClareBroommaker's picture

ClareBroommaker

Mon, 03/19/2018 - 11:15

That's an interesting take. I'm reminded of someone who is an avid biker for pleasure and transportation, probably 12 years older than me. She seems really youthful, but I know she's had surgery related to riding with weight supported through her wrists and shoulders. We traded some work once-- I tutored her in chemistry for a semester; she was to help do some garden weeding. She punked out in 45 minutes of what I found was light work. (so trade agreement never completed.) I was stunned. I thought as a biker she'd have great stamina-- but maybe it was those messed up wrists, the squatting, kneeling and bending.

Anyway, the older I get, the more I feel the absolute meed to vary my excercise/ work. Repetitive use injuries can come on very quickly. And I do really feel that loss of muscle the first article speaks of.

All in all, gardening has potential to give some pretty good work outs with cardio, stretching, balance, small and large muscles, weight bearing, stamina and sprint type excercises.

Yeah, so garden!

Sesquipedalian

Mon, 03/19/2018 - 02:35

Cycling is good exercise, but only as part of a complete exercise program. It is a non-load bearing exercise and it has been found that it is not good for bone density and can lead to increased risk of fractures, particularly hip joints.

https://www.trainingpeaks.com/blog/why-cycling-is-bad-for-bone-density-a...