Health Benefits of Tricycles for Seniors

June 25, 2020

Cycling is a popular outdoor hobby. Whether you ride for health benefits, to enjoy the great outdoors, to reduce your carbon footprint or a combination of all three, riding a bicycle can get more difficult as you age. Senior tricycles might be the answer if you’re experiencing fear of injuries or a lack of stamina on a regular bicycle. Here are some of the health benefits of trikes for seniors.

Cycling Uses All Muscle Groups

Riding a trike is an aerobic activity that gets your heart rate up. The American Heart Association recommends 150 minutes per week of moderate-intensity activity; 3 wheel bicycles for seniors are a great way to get that activity without putting a lot of weight on your knees. Riding a bike is a great way to build stamina, as well as strength. Your legs, core and arms get a workout on the trike, but it’s still a low-impact activity.

Cycling Reduces Stress

When you’re on your trike, you’re outside in the sun, enjoying nature. Make sure to wear sunscreen to protect your skin as you’re enjoying the landscape without worrying about your phone, job or kids. As you exercise, your body releases endorphins that improve your mood and help you fight depression. It reduces your stress, improves your outlook and usually lowers your blood pressure.

Cycling Improves Your Social Life

Many people forget how important it is to be around other people as part of their health. Riding a tricycle can help you be more social, which has been shown to reduce depression and have an impact on your physical well-being. Friends strengthen your immune system. Friends keep your brain sharp, which reduces the risk of dementia. There are a lot of riding groups that you can join to keep exercising and meeting people.

Using a Tricycle Reduces Fear

Not everyone learned to ride a bicycle. One of the most asked questions about tricycles is “is it difficult to ride a tricycle? Tricycles are much easier to ride than their counterparts. Riding a tricycle isn’t as scary because there are three wheels, which provide balance. The trike won’t fall over when you’re stationary, which makes it more accessible than a regular two-wheeled bike. You can be independently mobile longer on a tricycle. A tricycle can also put less strain on your back, neck and shoulders, because you’re not as concerned about balance. Riding slow on a tricycle is less dangerous than on a bicycle. With reduced fear, you can exercise longer and more often.

Riding Enhances Your Coordination

The process of pedaling requires multiple muscle groups to work together. You need hand and eye coordination to steer your tricycle. Sometimes, adults forget that to optimize health, they need to keep up with muscle coordination activities. When you get on and off the tricycle, it requires you to practice balancing, but you still have stability. These things work together to keep your muscles sharp.

Riding Reduces the Risk of Diseases

People recovering from strokes can usually ride an adult trike to achieve the cardiovascular and physical benefits of riding a bicycle. Exercise reduces the risk of many age-related diseases. Heart disease and diabetes can be prevented by staying active. People who live with these diseases can stay healthier and reduce their medication through exercise. Exercise reduces the risk of falls in seniors by improving strength and flexibility and increasing balance and coordination. Regular physical activity can also improve cognitive functions.

Ready to learn more about a tricycle and how you can benefit? Shop for tricycles for saleto find a trike that fits your needs and lets you get out into the world to enjoy fresh air, nature and the open road.