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There is no denying that veterans deserve all of the assistance and healing they can get from society after their service. One of the more popular ways that this healing can be achieved is through cycling.

According to Joe Tarver of Rock and Roll Cycles, discoveries made by experts note that cycling aligns circadian rhythms and therefore decrease the amount of stress hormones produced by the brain. For veterans that are disabled, advancements in the cycling industry creating recumbent trikes and adaptive cycles can provide them with the stimulation needed for healing.

Below, examples of the benefits of cycling for mental health and overall wellness are discussed and some of the uses of accommodative bikes that are designed for injured veterans are examined.

Healing

According to the book “Veteran and Military Mental Health Issues” by Catarina Inoue, two of the most publicized issues facing veterans are mental health diagnoses of depression and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. With as many as 6% of the entire United States population serving in the military, these mental health concerns facing veterans are also facing the country at large.

With such a daunting problem, it can be difficult to imagine how a simple cycling program can benefit veterans. However, cycling has been proven to come with many benefits that can apply directly to the mental health concerns associated with years of service.

Benefits

Below is a list of benefits that can be derived through the exercise of cycling for overall wellness and mental health:

• Cycling is Proven to Lower Depression – Depression can be caused by low levels of serotonin or norepinephrine, which are neurotransmitters that cycling can directly stimulate into existence. Additionally, cycling has been linked to providing a sense of purpose to those engaging in the exercise, lowering the focus on depressive thoughts.
• Cycling has Been Linked to Helping PTSD – According to American veterans, cycling alleviates symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder by focusing the rider on the environment they are cycling through in the present. Since many with PTSD are entrenched in focusing on the past or future worries, this benefit is crucial.
• Accommodative Cycles Provide Opportunity Despite Injuries – Many clinics provide opportunities for veterans to get out and experience the mental and overall health benefits of cycling despite any injuries or disabilities they may have. These clinics have specifically created models that adapt to the injuries of riders.

Accommodative Cycles

Accommodative cycles are bicycle models that are specifically created to be operable by those with disabilities including, but not limited to, the loss of a limb or motor function. For example, if a service member has lost the use of his or her legs, handcycles have been created to be powered by the upper body and arms, instead.

For veterans who are partially paralyzed or cannot move a bike along using the traditionally held method of their legs, this type of adaptive bike is the perfect way to continue to participate with the activity.

In Conclusion

In summary, veterans can suffer from both a mental and physical injuries after their service. This can lead to depression or symptoms of PTSD, especially for those adapting to life with limb injuries. However, the benefits of cycling as an exercise can not only alleviate some of those symptoms, but with the invention of accommodative cycles like the handcycle, disabilities do not have to limit our veterans.

Many believe that cycling is an activity that can only be enjoyed by the able-bodied. But this is far from the case. Cycling can be, for many disabled people, an easier way to get around, especially if walking is difficult, and the health benefits from this classic form of exercise are manifold.

Both young and old can enjoy bicycling and can use this activity to improve their physical health. Joe Tarver of Rock and Roll Cycles says that for the disabled, using a modified bicycle can facilitate increased mobility, and give the rider a new sense of freedom.

Individualized Bikes

Every disabled person experiences life with their disability differently, and there is no one style of bicycle that will fit everyone. This is why Joe Tarver of Rock and Roll Cycles created his customized cycles – to cater to the diverse needs of those with disabilities.

It could be that adapting a standard 2-wheeled bicycle with some minor modifications may do the job to allow the rider more freedom. However, many opt for having a new custom-made bike to fit their specific needs and wants.

The non-standard design such as a tricycle or even a tandem bike works best for most disabled folks. These adaptive bikes can be operated by using the hands, have various seating positions, assisted or tandem cycles where a disabled person can ride with someone who is not restricted, and wheelchair companion bikes.

Cycling and Improving Mobility

For many reasons, disabled people are often more inactive than the non-disabled. It means they risk falling victim to the health issues that come with a lack of movement and sedentary lifestyle.

Cycling is an excellent way to move better and improve overall fitness. Benefits of cycling include lowering of blood pressure, improved physical strength, and greater range of joint movement and circulation.

Cycling can also help improve balance for those with cerebral palsy or spina bifida and help those who have been in accidents to speed up their long-term recovery.

However, ‘mobility’ does not simply mean physical mobility, or the ease with which someone moves their body. Mobility also applies, particularly in this context, to simply moving out of an otherwise isolated position. It means getting out of the house, meeting people, and counteracting social isolation. Those who live with a disability are often capable of tending to their everyday needs but may require easier access to the tools they need to be able to do so. And this is where local government can help.

Incentives and Access

Local, government-run incentives in areas throughout the US can result in disabled people being awarded grants or loans to purchase bikes or may even participate in bike-sharing programs. Some of these programs can be found in the Directory of Programs for those with disabilities. Several medical insurers will also agree to cover therapeutic bicycle purchases.

In Closing

The physical, mental, and social benefits to cycling should be available to all, and with a little research, it is very possible that there is a local program that can assist those looking to become more mobile through cycling.