Falls are a leading cause of injury in seniors, and it is estimated that 20-30% of seniors will experience one or more falls per year.1 There are several risk factors that place seniors at higher risk of falls, such as reduced vision, impaired mobility, and the use of medications that may cause dizziness or drowsiness.2 As a family physician, these are risk factors that I see commonly among many of my elderly patients. But over the past month I came across two patients who had falls due to something entirely different – riding an electric bike (e-bike).
E-bikes have become increasingly popular over the past few years. In Calgary during the summer, you probably can’t travel more than a few blocks without seeing a bright orange Neuron e-bike on the sidewalk, waiting to be ridden. E-bikes are a fast and convenient mode of transportation, and riding one is a great form of exercise. But are they safe to use?
Compared to conventional bicycles, e-bikes reach faster speeds and require less physical exertion to ride. The latter feature can be appealing to individuals who may have difficulty riding conventional bikes due to age, illness, injury, or decreased physical fitness.3 Although crashes can occur while riding any kind of bike, there are factors unique to e-bikes that can increase the risk of crashing, such as unintentional acceleration, mechanical failure, and having little to no training on how to use the bike itself.4
One of my patients, a woman in her 60s, lost her balance and fell from her rented e-bike after it abruptly accelerated. She struck her head on the pavement and although she had been wearing a helmet, she sustained an intracranial hemorrhage (brain bleed). My second patient, also a woman in her 60s, fell from her e-bike and landed on the grass with a great deal of force due to the speed at which she was traveling. She unfortunately fractured her elbow during the fall.
Head trauma and fractures are two disastrous, but common consequences of falls in seniors. Fortunately, seniors can reduce their risk of falling by doing balance and muscle strengthening exercises regularly. While there is no form of exercise that is completely free of risk (especially riding an e-bike!), we can minimize the risk of injury by utilizing proper technique, knowing the limitations of our bodies, and getting guidance from our favourite personal trainers!
Written by: Dr. Mia Steiner
References:
1. Government of Canada. (2021, November 9). Seniors’ Falls in Canada – Infographic. https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/publications/healthy-living/seniors-falls-canada-second-report/seniors-falls-canada-infographic.html
2. Appeadu MK, Bordoni B. (2023, June 4). Falls and Fall Prevention in Older Adults. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK560761/
3. Schepers P, Klein Wolt K, Helbich M., Fishman E. (2020, October 6). Safety of E-bikes Compared to Conventional Bicycles: What Role Does Cyclists’ Health Condition Play? https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214140520301651
4. Johnson M, Rose G. (2015, September). Safety Implications of E-bikes. https://researchmgt.monash.edu/ws/portalfiles/portal/33966117/24939805.pdf
