Editing Cycling (section)

===Exercise===
[[File:Cyclist-189.JPG|thumb|left|Heavily equipped London cyclist: specialist cycle clothing, pollution mask, dark glasses and helmet.|alt=A man with sports clothes and a white helmet on a bicycle on a road.]]
The [[physical exercise]] gained from cycling is generally linked with increased health and well-being. According to the [[World Health Organization]] (WHO), physical inactivity is second only to [[tobacco smoking]] as a health risk in developed countries,<ref name="WHO">{{cite web |url=http://www.euro.who.int/document/e75662.pdf |title=A Physically Active Life through Everyday Transport |publisher=World health Organisation |access-date=29 September 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090928174944/http://www.euro.who.int/document/e75662.pdf |archive-date=28 September 2009 |url-status=dead}}</ref> and is associated with 20-30% increased risk of various cancers, heart disease, and diabetes<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.who.int/westernpacific/health-topics/physical-activity |title=Physical activity |website=www.who.int |language=en |access-date=24 October 2019}}</ref> and tens of billions of dollars of healthcare costs.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/obesity/economic_consequences.htm |title=Overweight and Obesity: Economic Consequences |publisher=Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (cdc.gov) |access-date=29 September 2009}}</ref> The WHO's 2009 report<ref name="WHO" /> suggests that increasing physical activity is a public health "best buy", and that cycling is a "highly suitable activity" for this purpose. The charity [[Sustrans]] reports that investment in cycling provision can give a 20:1 return from health and other benefits.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sustrans.org.uk/default.asp?sID=1158137684156 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070312033043/http://www.sustrans.org.uk/default.asp?sID=1158137684156 |archive-date=12 March 2007 |title=How transport can save the NHS |publisher=sustrans.org.uk}}</ref> It has been estimated that, on average, approximately 20 life-years are gained from the health benefits of road bicycling for every life-year lost through injury.<ref>{{cite book |author3=British Medical Association |first1=Mayhew |last1=Hillman |first2=David |last2=Morgan |title=Cycling: Towards Health and Safety |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |isbn=978-0-19-286151-1 |year=1992}}{{page needed|date=March 2015}}</ref>

Bicycles are often used by people seeking to improve their fitness and cardiovascular health. Recent studies on the use of cycling for commutes have shown that it reduces the risk of cardiovascular outcomes by 11%, with slightly more risk reduction in women than in men.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Oja |first1=P. |last2=Titze |first2=S. |last3=Bauman |first3=A. |last4=Geus |first4=B. de |last5=Krenn |first5=P. |last6=Reger-Nash |first6=B. |last7=Kohlberger |first7=T. |date=2011 |title=Health benefits of cycling: a systematic review |journal=Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports |language=en |volume=21 |issue=4 |pages=496–509 |doi=10.1111/j.1600-0838.2011.01299.x |pmid=21496106 |s2cid=19543146 |issn=1600-0838 |doi-access=free}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite journal |last=Shephard |first=Roy J |s2cid=12923997 |date=2008 |title=Is Active Commuting the Answer to Population Health? |journal=Sports Medicine |volume=38 |issue=9 |pages=751–758 |doi=10.2165/00007256-200838090-00004 |pmid=18712942 |issn=0112-1642}}</ref> In addition, cycling is especially helpful for those with [[arthritis]] of the lower limbs who are unable to pursue sports that cause impact to the knees and other joints. Since cycling can be used for the practical purpose of transportation, there can be less need for self-discipline to exercise.

Cycling while seated is a relatively non-[[weight bearing]] exercise that, like [[Human swimming#Recreation|swimming]], does little to promote bone density.<ref>{{cite journal |doi=10.1007/s00198-003-1418-z |pmid=12856112 |title=Low bone mineral density in highly trained male master cyclists |journal=Osteoporosis International |volume=14 |issue=8 |pages=644–9 |year=2003 |last1=Palmer |first1=Jacob E. |last2=Levy |first2=Susan S. |last3=Nichols |first3=Jeanne F. |s2cid=20599717}}</ref> Cycling up and out of the saddle, on the other hand, does a better job by transferring more of the rider's body weight to the legs. However, excessive [[Standing cycling|cycling while standing]] can cause knee damage<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sheldonbrown.com/pain.html#knees |title=Bicycling and Pain |access-date=7 February 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101223184126/http://sheldonbrown.com/pain.html#knees |archive-date=23 December 2010 |url-status=dead}}</ref> It used to be thought that cycling while standing was less energy efficient, but recent research has proven this not to be true. Other than air resistance, there is no wasted energy from cycling while standing, if it is done correctly.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.pezcyclingnews.com/?pg=fullstory&id=4512 |title=Sit or Stand: Tradeoffs in Efficiency? |publisher=PEZ Cycling News |date=21 November 2006 |access-date=28 November 2006}}</ref>
[[File:A_CycleBar_indoor_cycling_center_in_Chattanooga,_Tennessee.jpg|thumb|A CycleBar indoor cycling center in [[Chattanooga, Tennessee]]]]
Cycling on a [[stationary cycle]] is frequently advocated as a suitable exercise for rehabilitation, particularly for lower limb injury, owing to the low impact which it has on the joints. In particular, cycling is commonly used within knee rehabilitation programs, to strengthen the quadriceps muscles with minimal stress on the knee ligaments.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=McLeod |first1=William D. |last2=Blackburn |first2=T.A. |s2cid=23888818 |date=1980 |title=Biomechanics of knee rehabilitation with cycling |journal=The American Journal of Sports Medicine |language=en-US |volume=8 |issue=3 |pages=175–180 |doi=10.1177/036354658000800306 |pmid=7377449 |issn=0363-5465}}</ref> Further stress of the knee can be relieved by changing seat heights and pedal position to improve the rehabilitation. Cycling is also used for rehabilitation after hip surgery to manage soft-tissue healing, control swelling and pain, and allow a larger range of motion to the nearby muscles earlier during recovery.<ref name=":1">{{Cite journal |last1=Stalzer |first1=Steve |last2=Wahoff |first2=Michael |last3=Scanlan |first3=Molly |last4=Draovitch |first4=Pete |date=2005 |title=Rehabilitation After Hip Arthroscopy |journal=Operative Techniques in Orthopaedics |volume=15 |issue=3 |pages=280–289 |doi=10.1053/j.oto.2005.06.007 |issn=1048-6666}}</ref> As a result, many institutions have established a rehabilitation protocol that involves stationary cycling as part of the recovery process. One such protocol offered by Mayo Clinic recommends 2–4 weeks of cycling on an upright stationary bike following [[hip arthroscopy]], starting from 5 minutes per session and slowly increasing to 30 minutes per session.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Spencer-Gardner |first1=Luke |last2=Eischen |first2=Joseph J. |last3=Levy |first3=Bruce A. |last4=Sierra |first4=Rafael J. |last5=Engasser |first5=William M. |last6=Krych |first6=Aaron J. |s2cid=44008338 |date=2013 |title=A comprehensive five-phase rehabilitation programme after hip arthroscopy for femoroacetabular impingement |journal=Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy |volume=22 |issue=4 |pages=848–859 |doi=10.1007/s00167-013-2664-z |pmid=24077689 |issn=0942-2056}}</ref> The goal of these sessions are to reduce joint [[inflammation]] and maintain the widest range of motion possible with limited pain. 
[[File:Bike at Prins hendrikkade Amsterdam centraal.JPG|thumb|Bike at [[Prins Hendrikkade]], Amsterdam]]

As a response to the increased global sedentary lifestyles and consequent overweight and [[obesity]], one response that has been adopted by many organizations concerned with health and environment is the promotion of [[Active travel]], which seeks to promote walking and cycling as safe and attractive alternatives to motorized transport. Given that many journeys are for relatively short distances, there is considerable scope to replace car use with walking or cycling, though in many settings this may require some infrastructure modification, particularly to attract the less experienced and confident.

An Italian study assessed the impact of cycling for commute on major non-communicable diseases and public healthcare costs. Using a health economic assessment model, the study found a lower incidence of type 2 diabetes, acute myocardial infarction, and stroke in individuals that cycled compared to those that did not actively commute. This model estimated that public healthcare costs would reduce by 5% over a 10-year period.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Taddei |first1=Cristina |last2=Gnesotto |first2=Roberto |last3=Forni |first3=Silvia |last4=Bonaccorsi |first4=Guglielmo |last5=Vannucci |first5=Andrea |last6=Garofalo |first6=Giorgio |date=30 April 2015 |title=Cycling Promotion and Non-Communicable Disease Prevention: Health Impact Assessment and Economic Evaluation of Cycling to Work or School in Florence |journal=PLOS ONE |language=en |volume=10 |issue=4 |pages=e0125491 |doi=10.1371/journal.pone.0125491 |issn=1932-6203 |pmc=4415918 |pmid=25928421 |bibcode=2015PLoSO..1025491T |doi-access=free}}</ref>

Illinois designated cycling as its [[List of Illinois state symbols|official state exercise]] in 2007.<ref>{{citation |title=Cats and dogs, bikes and milkweed: Illinois adds more state symbols beginning in the new year |last=Herrmann |first=Brett |date=28 December 2017 |work=News Tribune |url=http://www.newstrib.com/free/illinois-adds-more-state-symbols-beginning-in-the-new-year/article_462130f2-ebe1-11e7-8d9b-a7468edb679d.html |access-date=22 May 2019}}{{Dead link|date=September 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>