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Ride your bike to work May 14
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Spring is a
great time to dust off the bicycle and get out to see the world with
the MUSC Employee Wellness Program designating May 14 as “Ride Your
Bike to Work” day.
Stephanie Power, a social worker and injury prevention program
coordinator, said that bicycling is a great way to see the outdoors,
take in the fresh air, get around town or even get to work. It’s
also an efficient way to burn excess calories, shed body fat and
improve cardiovascular health. Depending on your body weight and the
intensity of your ride, you will probably burn some where between 400
and 500 calories on a one hour bicycling trip, she said.
The following are tips for those who are trying to stay healthy and
meet their exercise goals, but are struggling with busy schedules.
- Try having a
scheduled daily ride of about an hour
- Ride your bike to
and from work or school
- Plan family or
group rides a few times a week, making this a longer ride of a couple
of hours
- Plan times
throughout your week to fit in a bike ride, such as when running
errands or visiting friends
Power said the
MUSC Level One Trauma Center wants people to be safe while riding since
there is an inherent risk of injury in any sport.
Recommended safety
tips
- Wear a bike
helmet. Many bike related injuries occur right outside the front door
and in people’s own neighborhood going at slow speeds.
- Use a reflector
and wear brightly colored clothes.
- Be street smart.
Ride on the right side of the road, moving with traffic, and obey all
traffic signs and signals. Discuss the best riding routes with
children. Remember that on the road bikes are a vehicle.
Editor's note: The preceding column was
brought to you on behalf of Health 1st. Striving to bring various
topics and representing numerous employee wellness organizations and
committees on campus, this weekly column seeks to provide MUSC, MUHA
and UMA employees with current and helpful information concerning all
aspects of health.
Friday, May 7, 2010
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