Project
Sensorimotor assessment and training for safe(e-)cycling in older adults
In Flanders, 83% of the adult population uses a bicycle and one out of three uses their bike daily. Biking is an essential way to maintain physical activity levels in a population, but this is even truer for older persons. Bike safety is a major concern, especially for this older population using e-bikes. Older adults are particularly at risk for accidents without motorized vehicles, highlighting the preponderance of the physical and cognitive properties of an individual in bike accidents. This increased risk might be a result of decreased control of balance due to the decline of sensory, motor or cognitive function in the 65+ population. This project is articulated around two arms: In the assessment arm, we will investigate riding competencies and neuro-musculosketetal properties influencing biking skills, which is a prerequisite to design effective interventions to improve bike safety. In the training arm, we will pilot an innovative training protocol that focuses on cycling skills in older adults.