No-nose Bicycle Saddles Improve Penile Sensation and Erectile Function in Bicycling Police Officers
Ever hop on your bicycle and say to yourself “I really need to adjust this seat.” There is a rule of thumb about the proper height of a bicycle seat that makes it so your leg is almost fully extended in the down peddle position. It’s most uncomfortable and when I used to ride a lot I would adjust the seat of the bicycle so it would tip slightly forward, taking pressure off of my testicles.
Over the years there have been various warning about bicycle seats causing erectile dysfunction and even sterility. It can make for an uneasy feeling about riding a bike. However there is a solution and studies that show it is effective. read on…
Cincinnati, Ohio – August 7, 2008 - An innovative study appearing in the August issue of The Journal of Sexual Medicine examined, for the first time, if noseless bicycle saddles would be an effective intervention for alleviating deleterious health effects, erectile dysfunction and groin numbness, caused by bicycling on the traditional saddle with a protruding nose extension. Results from this study may be useful for the estimated 5 million recreational cyclists to alleviate perineal discomfort and maintain sexual health.
Ninety bicycling police officers from 5 metropolitan regions in the U.S. (Northwest, Southern, Desert West, Midwest, and Southeast) using traditional saddles were evaluated prior to changing saddles and then again after 6 months of using the noseless bicycle saddle.
The findings show that use of the noseless saddle resulted in a reduction in saddle contact pressure in the perineal region. There was a significant improvement in penile tactile sensation, and the number of men indicating they had not experienced genital numbness while cycling for the preceding 6 months rose from 27 percent to 82 percent using no-nose saddles. Use of the noseless saddle also resulted in significant increases in erectile function as assessed by the initial evaluation, but there were no significant changes noted in Rigiscan® measures, a method used to record penile rigidity while the subject sleeps. With few exceptions, bicycle police officers were able to effectively use no-nose saddles in their police work and 97 percent of officers completing the study continued to use the no-nose saddle afterward.
Dr. Steven Schrader of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health in Cincinnati, first author of the study and the recent co-recipient along with his research team of a Bullard-Sherwood Research-to-Practice Award in the Interventions Category for “Health Effects of Occupational Cycling” stated, “No-nose saddles are a useful intervention for bicycling police officers alleviating pressure to the groin and improving penis health. Different saddle designs may require some re-learning of ‘how to ride a bicycle,’ but the health benefits to having unrestricted vascular flow to and from the penis and less penile numbness is self-evident.”
Dr. Irwin Goldstein, Director, Sexual Medicine, Alvarado Hospital, San Diego C.A., and editor-in-chief of The Journal of Sexual Medicine, wrote an accompanying editorial entitled “The A, B, C’s of The Journal of Sexual Medicine: Awareness, Bicycle Seats, and Choices”.
“For the first time, we have a prospective study of healthy policemen riding bikes on the job, using wider, no-nose bike saddles for 6 months. Not only did their sensation improve, their erectile function also improved. Changing saddles changed physiology. This is a landmark study for our field that that is important for future riders, and modification of lifestyle showing improvement without any active treatment.”
The study and editorial are published in the August 2008 issue of The Journal of Sexual Medicine. Media wishing to receive PDF copies may contact medicalnews@bos.blackwellpublishing.net.
Image Source: Amazon.com
Tags: bicycle saddles, erectile-dysfunction, noseless bicycle seats, penile sensation, seterility, sexual health penis healthRelated Stories
POSTED IN: Sexual Health
0 opinions for No-nose Bicycle Saddles Improve Penile Sensation and Erectile Function in Bicycling Police Officers
No one has left a comment yet. You know what this means, right? You could be first!
Have an opinion? Leave a comment: