If you are able to cycle everyday, it means that you are a fit person.
So, is it good to cycle every day? You can come to your own conclusion after reading what I am able to share with you.
Though cycling is a low impact exercise, it does produce a full body workout that is reported to improve:
-cardiovascular fitness.
-muscle strength.
-mental well-being.
Unlike some other sports, it is an activity that you can perform on your own or in a group with friends or relatives regardless of the age differences.
You can easily integrate cycling into your daily routine. You can cycle to replace your commutes by car to places near your home. For long distances, you can take public transport and cycle part of the way. This will help reduce your transportation costs as you do not have to pay for:
-fuel.
-parking fees.
-higher maintenance fees.
Cycling can provide substantial mental and emotional benefits as there is a higher opportunity for social connection. The other physical benefits you will enjoy through this outdoor activity are:
-improved immunity.
-better sleep.
-reduced stress and anxiety.
-enhanced mood.
-increased attention to the environment you ride through.
In fact, cycling can promote a deeper connection with nature as your rides can bring you to places that you may not be able to reach by car or by public transport.
Do you know that a person suffering from Parkinson Disease with impaired balance and coordination skills will not have any problem balancing himself on a bicycle to cycle? There is actually a test done on the “Effect of Bicycling on Balance and Leg Strength among Older Adults”. So, cycling is also good for you in the long run.
However, note that cycling is a repetitive exercise which can cause strain injuries. Also, excessive periods of time in a sitting position can shorten the psoas muscle. It is the muscle on either side of our spine which runs from our lower back to the top of our hips.
If you are not cycling on a bicycle that allows you to sit in a more upright position, your hip will always be in a semi-flexed position. This position holds the psoas muscles in a semi-shortened position. When you often ride long distances or for long hours on the bike, this muscle can become permanently shorter, when it starts to lose sarcomeres, which is the basic contractile unit of muscle fiber. If you start feeling pain in your hips, lower back, groin or butt, you may be suffering from psoas syndrome. You can return the psoas muscle to its normal range by performing mobility and stretching exercises.
This is the easiest method to lengthen or stretch the psoas muscle that I have read from Greenwood Physical Therapy:
1) Lay on your back on a firm surface.
2) Your head and pelvis should be in contact with the ground.
3) Do not try to flatten your spine towards the floor.
4) Rest your arms on the floor or on your stomach.
5) Bend your knees, a hip width apart from each other.
6) Your legs should be placed about 12-16" away from your buttocks.
7) Gently breath in and out.
8) Stay in this position for 5-15 minutes.
You can learn five more stretches and exercises that target the psoas at the following link:
