A mother in the background asked me this question: I saw an article saying that children should not ride a bicycle before the age of 6, will it affect the development of the genitals? I was really taken aback. I saw an article before that said that men who ride bicycles for a long time will become infertile. Will little boys also be?
This question is indeed very interesting. Before seeing this question, many mothers will definitely not think about it, but when they see this question, the door to their inner doubts is opened. : Will it happen?
Why does cycling affect reproductive development?
In fact, since the 1970s, scientists have begun to study whether cycling will affect sexual function.
In the end, the results of various studies show that cycling does affect the normal development and function of reproductive organs. This is not just for boys, girls are also affected to some extent.
So where exactly is the “bad” bike?
One is long-term pressure on the perineum.
When sitting in a chair normally, the weight of the upper body is mainly supported by the sitting bones, and the hips and private parts help distribute the pressure.
But when riding a bicycle, because the seat is narrower, the contact area with the buttocks is reduced, so the pressure on the private parts increases. In addition, the tactile nerves and blood vessels that control the reproductive organs are distributed in the private parts. Long-term pressure and insufficient congestion will lead to abnormal erection of the reproductive organs.
Second, repeated friction causes the private parts to heat up.
We know that healthy sperm develops at a temperature below body temperature, which makes up the unique structure of the scrotum.
However, when riding a bicycle, because the private parts will continue to rub against the seat, and the pressure on the private parts will increase the temperature of the scrotum, which will affect the quality of semen.
Although cycling may affect the normal development of reproductive organs, as long as you ride scientifically, the benefits of this sport outweigh the disadvantages.
Cycling is actually good
While we just explained why cycling affects the reproductive organs, one thing remains clear:
The problems with cycling are related to how long and how far you ride.
So if you ride a bicycle occasionally, or if the distance is not long, the impact of cycling on the private parts is not great, and there are many benefits, which are shown in the following:
▶It can effectively exercise the leg muscles.
▶Promote blood circulation and improve cardiopulmonary function
▶Improve exercise capacity in patients with chronic heart failure
▶Knee friendly
▶Can improve bad mood and maintain good mood
Especially for children, there are many benefits of having a balance bike, the most obvious of which are three:
Improve their reflexes
Balance bikes can mobilize children’s whole body to push the body forward and exercise their coordination and balance.
Studies believe that 1.5 to 6 years old is the “golden period” for developing children’s balance ability. And exercise balance, but also can improve the child’s reaction speed.
Strength your legs
When riding a balance bike, you need to keep changing your legs to drive the car forward, which can effectively exercise your leg muscles. In addition, because it is necessary to maintain balance and avoid obstacles, it is necessary to turn and stop in time, which also exercises the child’s limbs and hand-eye coordination.
Develop your child’s resilience and self-confidence
Encountering obstacles when riding a bicycle, babies rely on controlling their own behavior to overcome the obstacles and constantly break through themselves. In this way, while enjoying sports, they also build their ability and confidence to cope with difficulties.
How to ride a bike scientifically
If you want to use your bike effectively to improve your fitness, your riding position is the key.
1. Don’t give up eating because of choking
Cycling is a great form of exercise and shouldn’t be given up because of “possible” bad outcomes. Moreover, as long as the riding time does not exceed 1 hour each time, the impact on the private parts is still relatively small.
2. Choose a bike with a wider seat
This is because of the wider seat, which fully supports the sitting bones. Distributes most of your body weight by increasing the contact area of the seat bones with the saddle, thereby reducing pressure on the private parts and reducing friction.
So, if you ride for a long time, you can choose a suitable saddle with a width that can support your sitting bones. Or choose a seat with a hollow or sunken nose to relieve the pressure on the perineum.
3. Try to sit as vertically as possible
This can effectively reduce the pressure on the private parts of the body.
4. Change your position while cycling
For example, every 10 minutes, stand up for 15 seconds to free the private parts from oppression.
5. Adjust the seat height for the proper height
Adjust the height of the saddle to ensure that the weight is evenly distributed on the hips and hands and minimize the pressure on the perineum from the saddle.
If the seat is too low, it is easy to increase the pressure on the knee joint; if the seat is too high, pelvic displacement and knee hyperextension may occur due to improper pedaling, which is also not conducive to the growth of the child development.
In addition, pay extra attention to safety, and be sure to remind children to wear protective gear when riding a bicycle.
In fact, everything has its pros and cons. For cycling, as long as the time is properly managed, these are all minor issues and don’t need to be overly concerned.
What’s more, not only may riding a bicycle cause problems, but sitting still for a long time can also cause harm to the private parts, and even make children lazy and fat, which is more harmful than riding a bicycle for a long time. Comes directly.
So, it’s better to start chasing the sun with your child tomorrow! This is real.