Think of a micro scooter in NZ, and you will probably conjure up images of it being ridden by a little person. But the reality is, big people are moving in on that little person’s territory and riding city streets on their own micro scooter. A lot of it has to do with the fact that micro scooters are a lot of fun to ride. But, for many grown-ups who are fighting that ongoing battle to stay fit as they get older, a micro scooter is seen as a great way to get in shape and stay that way.
This theory is supported by a recent study carried out by the University of Brighton. They found that scooting for 45 minutes burns an average of 350 calories; this is in comparison to walking for 45 minutes which burns 149 calories, cycling which burns 270 calories, and running which eats up 450 calories over the same period.
Scooting is seen as an effective aerobic workout which delivers a long list of benefits, including:
- fat burning
- core conditioning of the abdominals, obliques and lower back
- strengthens skeletal muscles, joints and spine
- builds endurance levels
- promotes agility, strength, balance and coordination
- relatively inexpensive compared to the cost of fitness equipment or gym memberships
At the same time, scooting has minimal impact on the joints, yet it can become a high-intensity cardiovascular workout when the rider wants to up the intensity levels (and their speed). However, the most important factor in a micro scooter’s ability to deliver health and fitness benefits could well be the thing it is originally designed for: having fun, and lots of it.
Researchers have found that individuals who modify their workouts every two weeks over an eight-week period enjoy their workouts more. As such, they’re much more likely to stick with their exercise programmes when compared to people who adhere to the same workout regime week after week. Introducing an enjoyable activity like scooting into the fitness mix is the sort of modification those researchers might well point to as a perfect example.
While online toy retailers like this one in Auckland are in the business of fun, many of the micro scooters they sell are sold with more than enjoyment in mind. Those purchases are made by big people who are looking to mix things up as they strive to stay fit and healthy. But just like the little people who ride micro scooters all over New Zealand, those big people get a huge kick out of it at the same time.
