Written by: Dawn Stanton, MA, PAPHS
With the fall-like weather beginning to sneak in and cooler temps on the way you may be considering dusting off the bike and going for a ride. There are many benefits to biking, including:
- It is joint friendly! As long as your bike is set up properly, the lower impact exercise works the muscles without stressing the joints like running or walking. If you are rehabbing from an injury or have joint pain you can typically enjoy a ride on an exercise with less joint irritation.
- It is a lifelong form of cardiovascular exercise. Biking has been shown to be a great cardio work out. And because it causes less joint stress it can be done well into adulthood.
- The whole family can do it! Unlike running, which can be difficult for very young children and older adults, the whole family can go out for a bike ride!
- Biking is a great way to explore our local parks and trails. The Triangle is a biker friendly community with numerous bike paths and trails. The City of Raleigh and the American Tobacco Trail have many distances and locations you can ride.
- Visit raleighnc.gov/parks and triangletrails.org for more information and maps.
- It is a great way to support a charity, such as the Kids ‘N Community Foundation!!
Come out to Raleigh Orthopaedic’s 7th Annual 24-Hour Bike Challenge on August 18th and 19th and join CORE as we ride to raise money for the Kids ‘N Community Foundation! Started by the Carolina Hurricanes in 1997, the Kids ‘n Community Foundation has donated over $12 million to charitable organizations that support local youth. Visit https://www.raleighortho.com/blog/ for more information and to join us!
Whatever your reason, biking is a great cardiovascular exercise for the entire family!
About Dawn Stanton, MA, PAPHS:
Dawn Stanton is a Fitness Specialist with the CORE Program at Raleigh Orthopaedic Clinic. She earned her Master’s Degree in Health Education from ECU in 2010 and her Bachelor of Arts in Exercise Science in 2005 from UNC-Chapel Hill. Dawn has been a certified personal trainer since 2005 and worked in corporate fitness and wellness 7 year prior to joining ROC in 2012. Dawn enjoys reading, cooking, and keeping up with two very active sons.