One of Dr. Vermillion’s personal passions is cycling. He rides no matter what the season with his road bike, mountain bike and fat tire bike. Cycling is truly a year round Alaska sport. Whether you’re recovering from an injury, looking to start a new form of cardio, or hoping to preserve your knee, cycling is the way to go! Biking is much lower impact on the body than running and it engages the muscles in the legs without as much force coming down on the knees. Andy Clarke, the president of the League of American Bicyclists says, “Cycling gets your legs moving and your heart pumping without pounding your joints.” Biking also:
Improves your mental health – Biking helps reduce stress, anxiety, and depression. The circular motion relaxes the body without putting stress on your joints, resulting in regulated emotions, breathing, and movement.
Is an activity you’ll be able to do the rest of your life – Weightlifting, running and other activities are strenuous on the body and aren’t going to be easy years down the line. However, bicycling is easy on the joints and you’ll be able to do it day after day.
Improves coordination – Moving both feet around in circles while steering with both your hands and balancing your body weight is good practice for your coordination skills.
Boost energy – A study published in Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics found that bike riding improved energy levels by 20% and decreased fatigue by 65%. This is because biking triggers the release of dopamine in your brain.
The ORCA office staff lead active lifestyles. We understand how important it is for our patients to return to their own favorite activities and we want to be there for you every step of the way! Please leave your cycling questions on our Facebook page and we’ll get you the answer.