Physical activity, balance, and bicycling in older adults

Falls are a critical public health issue among older adults. One notable factor contributing to falls in older adults is a deterioration of the structures supporting balance and overall balance control. Preliminary evidence suggests older adults who ride a bicycle have better balance than those who...

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Main Authors: Maya Baughn, Victor Arellano, Brieanna Hawthorne-Crosby, Joseph S. Lightner, Amanda Grimes, Gregory King
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2022-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9731420/?tool=EBI
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author Maya Baughn
Victor Arellano
Brieanna Hawthorne-Crosby
Joseph S. Lightner
Amanda Grimes
Gregory King
author_facet Maya Baughn
Victor Arellano
Brieanna Hawthorne-Crosby
Joseph S. Lightner
Amanda Grimes
Gregory King
author_sort Maya Baughn
collection DOAJ
description Falls are a critical public health issue among older adults. One notable factor contributing to falls in older adults is a deterioration of the structures supporting balance and overall balance control. Preliminary evidence suggests older adults who ride a bicycle have better balance than those who do not. Cycling may be an effective intervention to prevent falls among older adults. This study aims to objectively measure the relationship between bicycling, physical activity, and balance for older adults. Older adult cyclists (n = 19) and non-cyclists (n = 27) were recruited to (1) complete a survey that assessed demographics; (2) wear an accelerometer for 3 weeks to objectively assess physical activity; and (3) complete balance-related tasks on force platforms. Mann-Whitney U-tests were performed to detect differences in balance and physical activity metrics between cyclists and non-cyclists. Cyclists were significantly more physically active than non-cyclists. Cyclists, compared to non-cyclists, exhibited differences in balance-related temporospatial metrics and long-range temporal correlations that suggest a more tightly regulated postural control strategy that may relate to higher stability. Cycling was observed to correlate more strongly with balance outcomes than other physical activity. Taken together, these results demonstrate the possible implications for cycling as an effective intervention to improve balance and reduce fall risk.
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spelling doaj.art-9999facfe1a94a8aadd19e003b9db3fa2022-12-22T04:41:07ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032022-01-011712Physical activity, balance, and bicycling in older adultsMaya BaughnVictor ArellanoBrieanna Hawthorne-CrosbyJoseph S. LightnerAmanda GrimesGregory KingFalls are a critical public health issue among older adults. One notable factor contributing to falls in older adults is a deterioration of the structures supporting balance and overall balance control. Preliminary evidence suggests older adults who ride a bicycle have better balance than those who do not. Cycling may be an effective intervention to prevent falls among older adults. This study aims to objectively measure the relationship between bicycling, physical activity, and balance for older adults. Older adult cyclists (n = 19) and non-cyclists (n = 27) were recruited to (1) complete a survey that assessed demographics; (2) wear an accelerometer for 3 weeks to objectively assess physical activity; and (3) complete balance-related tasks on force platforms. Mann-Whitney U-tests were performed to detect differences in balance and physical activity metrics between cyclists and non-cyclists. Cyclists were significantly more physically active than non-cyclists. Cyclists, compared to non-cyclists, exhibited differences in balance-related temporospatial metrics and long-range temporal correlations that suggest a more tightly regulated postural control strategy that may relate to higher stability. Cycling was observed to correlate more strongly with balance outcomes than other physical activity. Taken together, these results demonstrate the possible implications for cycling as an effective intervention to improve balance and reduce fall risk.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9731420/?tool=EBI
spellingShingle Maya Baughn
Victor Arellano
Brieanna Hawthorne-Crosby
Joseph S. Lightner
Amanda Grimes
Gregory King
Physical activity, balance, and bicycling in older adults
PLoS ONE
title Physical activity, balance, and bicycling in older adults
title_full Physical activity, balance, and bicycling in older adults
title_fullStr Physical activity, balance, and bicycling in older adults
title_full_unstemmed Physical activity, balance, and bicycling in older adults
title_short Physical activity, balance, and bicycling in older adults
title_sort physical activity balance and bicycling in older adults
url https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9731420/?tool=EBI
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