Researchers Suggest Mountain Biking for Health
Is mountain biking an "extreme sport," or something you can do for casual recreation?
Many people took up mountain biking during the coronavirus pandemic, and researchers from Australia have found that the sport isn't as dangerous as you might think — and they say the benefits are greater than the risks.
Researchers from Curtin University looked at 17 past studies on mountain biking injuries, and seven studies on hiking injuries. These included both competitive and noncompetitive hiking and mountain biking, with over 220,000 injured mountain bikers and almost 18,000 injured hikers.
The most common mountain biking injuries were abrasions — things like skinned elbows — as well as cuts and bruises. There were also a number of fractures, most commonly of the upper limbs.
A total of three mountain biking deaths were reported — two from head injuries, while the third did not report the cause. One of those who died was reported not to have been wearing a helmet.
For hikers, lower limb injuries were most common, particularly blisters and ankle sprains. Some deaths were also reported, from things like falls and heart problems.
While injury rates varied significantly between the studies, "most reported injuries were of low severity," said lead author Paul Braybrook.
He said that as both hiking and mountain biking have become more popular, trails and protective equipment have improved, reducing the risk of serious injury.
However, one study reported about a third of competitive mountain bikers continuing to ride with broken helmets, while two-thirds continued to ride after a concussion.
But Braybrook said mountain biking culture has shifted away from the more "extreme" style of its early years.
"Mountain biking and hiking bring economic gains through tourism and the obvious health benefits of physical activity," he said, naming improvements in heart health, body weight, cholesterol and risk of diabetes.
"People should take the opportunity to regularly head out to their nearest trail for a ride or hike — these are fun activities, great for fitness and with only the occasional scratch or bruise likely to result," he said.
