Search Here

Age is now more than numbers as a recent study has found that older bikers have three times more risks of being injured than the younger ones.

With people becoming more environmentally friendly, biking has become a popular mode of transport for people who are 50 years and above. This research might raise a concern among them, as data shows that with the number of aging bikers increasing, the percentage of them being involved in serious road accidents is also accelerating.

In the year 1990, one in every 10 people over 50 years of age was a biker; the ratio has increased to one in every four in 2003. While the average age of people involved in biking accident has increased, those bikers who are over 65 years old have 145 percent increased cases of injury between 2000 and 2006. The data were obtained from the U.S. National Electronic Injury Surveillance System-All Injury Program (NEISS-AIP) between 2001 and 2008 which held reports of all major biking accidents.

It was observed that between 2001 and 2008 1.5 million motor accident was reported, out of which 85 percent were men and were aging 20 years and above. The number of accident cases increased among all age groups but for those who were 60 years or older, the increase was a huge 247 percent. Also, they had three times more probable of being admitted following a crash than their younger counterparts. While the chances dropped to twice for middle aged bikers. These bikers also had a higher probability of being seriously injured than the younger bikers.

With the advancement of age the body starts decaying and the reflex action of the human body also slows down. According to the author other factors like lesser bone strength, irregular distribution of adipose tissues, other medical conditions might also explain the rising amount of accidents.

"The greater severity of injuries among older adults may be due to the physiological changes that occur as the body ages," the author was quoted as saying in Medicalxpress.

The research was published online in Injury Prevention.