Veterans Day: local columnist shines light on how cycling is therapy for military vets with PTSD

November 10, 6:46 PMSan Jose Fitness ExaminerAmy Rabinovitz

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Cycling is popular world wide, like this race in Mexico, but right here in
the U.S., many veterans with PTSD are finding that it is also a very
healing sport.  (AP Photo/Israel Leal)

In the November 10  San Jose Mercury News, columnist Joe Rodriguez writes about Bay Area military vets suffering from  post traumatic stress disorder.  In the paper edition, it was headlined "Wheeling and healing," but given the demands of search engines and online editing, the mercurynews.com edition titles it, "War veterans cycle San Francisco peninsula for peace of mind." 

Whichever way it's titled, this is a great article that is well worth the time to read and ponder.  Rodriguez talks about the local veterans hospital and the cycling program that area vets have created.  He reports that,

Running, swimming, skiing and other endurance sports aren't new in the treatment of physically, emotionally or mentally wounded soldiers. But as a sustained therapy for PTSD, cycling appears to work wonders.

Exercise is, as the above quote points out,  an important treatment in PTSD, and of course this extends beyond the treatment of soldiers.  In general, exercise is considered an important part of healing for many people who have been through trauma.

First is the fact that exercise helps you focus on something outside of what is happening inside your head - the distraction of exercise in itself is healing.  Second, as any fitness buff will tell you, exercise gives you a sense of control that is empowering in many ways.  There are also the attributes that come from physical healing, and from group interaction. 

Check out the Rodriguez column, and if you are a fitness buff or cycling fan who has been looking for a meaningful way to celebrate Veterans Day, consider how you can help support this program (Rodriguez gives contact info in his article).

If you are into biking, you'll also want to make note that the Alliance for Biking and Walking is taking nominations for its annual Advocacy Awards for excellence in bicycling and walking advocacy. 

• Marathon training: Jen Ibarra writes about Running for a Cause
• Meet Team Solemates - Avon Walk Team is committed to fighting breast cancer
• Basic rules for healthy exercise
• Team Medeiros walks at Livestrong Challenge - and has unique ties to Armstrong
• August 2009 Silicon Valley Fitness Calendar
• Pew Study: health consumers using web in growing numbers
  
• Felipe Buitrago - 2009 Silicon Valley Bike Commuter of the Year

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