E-Bike Related Head Injuries Increasing in the US!

E-Bike Related Head Injuries Increasing in the US

A recent report analyzing US hospital data, published by JAMA Surgery, February 2024, has shed light on an alarming trend. The findings indicate a concerning increase in head injuries associated with electric bicycles (e-bikes) over the past few years. It is an issue that can be lessened but we must first understand the importance of helmets. Dr. Aaron Workman, a member of one of the highest rated auto injury medical facilities, Chambers Medical Group of Kentucky, presents valuable information regarding the increase in e-bike related head injuries.

According to the study, only 44% of hospitalized e-bike riders were wearing helmets, and those without helmets were nearly twice as likely to suffer head injuries. While the research focused solely on emergency room data, the surge in head injuries underscores the heightened risk posed by e-bikes compared to traditional bicycles. While some may just consider them bicycles, the speed and range of e-bikes makes them more susceptible to increased trauma severity.

This particular report took data from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS), analyzed cases from 2017 to 2022, isolating e-bike injuries from those related to regular bicycles, mopeds, or electric scooters. It examined a sample of 1,038 NEISS cases, comparing head injury stats between e-bike and regular bike riders, as well as between helmeted and non-helmeted riders.

What is the result? “Between 2017 and 2022, an estimated 45,586 e-bike injuries occurred in the US, with 5,462 resulting in hospitalization.” The rate of e-bike injuries jumped by 30-fold during this period, with hospitalization rates increasing by 43-fold. Particularly alarming was the significant surge in head injuries, which increased by 49 times higher in 2022 than 2017. Each year there was a 5.6% decrease in odds of helmet use. Unfortunately, this is another statistic trending the wrong way.

The availability and dropping prices of e-bikes has no doubt contributed to the rise in popularity and therefore injuries, with more people on the roads enjoying them. The problem lies within the seriousness of how dangerous a bicycle can be when it adds a motor. The motor not only gives speed as a contributing factor but also a more prolonged ride, at higher speeds, increasing the likelihood of a higher speed accident. Most would second guess getting on a motorcycle without a helmet, but the majority of hospitalized e-bike riders were not wearing helmets. Only 44% of injured riders wore helmets, and those without helmets were 1.9 times more likely to sustain head injuries. These figures may be underestimated, as the study only accounted for emergency department cases, leaving unreported incidents, or those without mention of a helmet, out of the data pool.

This report emphasized the importance of helmet usage to prevent head injuries. By having the ability to get this information out to the public, it can be more readily known to make e-bike riders think twice before taking off without a helmet. The report focuses on the severity of traumatic brain injuries associated with e-bikes, particularly due to their higher speeds. In the US, e-bikes can reach speeds of up to 20 mph and often beyond. If you do a quick search most e-bikes will advertise faster speeds and if it is not advertised, a change to the controller setting can usually be found to allow it to go faster.

Trying out e-bikes can be a fun experience. Today you can even buy a kit to convert your regular bicycle to an e-bike. One of the biggest benefits can be the increased physical activity which only leads to improved health. Their popularity will continue to grow as technology and batteries become cheaper. That rise in popularity will also benefit with a rise in consideration of safety. This data shows that the use of helmets on e-bikes decreases the chances of head trauma, so throw that helmet on before your next ride!

— This article is written by Aaron Workman, DC, one of the members of Chambers Medical Group’s team of car accident chiropractors who offer a variety of treatments and therapies ranging from diagnostic testing to various soft tissue therapies for car accidents and injuries in Kentucky.

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