Adapted Sports and Recreation

Cycling! A right of passage for all kids
Adapted Sports and Recreation Committee, AACPDM, New Orleans, 2002

Overview

Who should consider cycling?

Anybody with or without a disability.
Anyone who wants to have fun and stay or get fit.

Why cycling?

Cycling is an excellent means for fun and fitness.
With appropriate selection of equipment and attention to safety, simple to complex modifications can make cycling accessible to nearly anyone.
Cycling is easy on joints, and gearing and gadgets help to overcome impairments.

How to begin?

Fitness testing by age 7 This establishes a baseline of the child's cardio-respiratory fitness level and can be repeated to measure progress.

Leisure interest assessment This tool identifies a child's interest and leisure strengths.

Individualized fitness plan After the child's interests have been identified, the Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS), the parent, and the child will develop a plan to achieve the child's fitness goals. This includes information on community resources that are available to assist the child in meeting their goals and fitness plan.

Follow-up fitness evaluation At eight weeks a follow-up fitness test is encouraged to provide feedback on the child's progress towards a healthy leisure lifestyle.

Safety considerations:

Helmets for everyone

Children who are cycling must wear a helmet.
Don't negotiate!
No helmet, no riding.
It must be comfortable and snug, and shouldn't rock back and forth, or side to side.
Buy a helmet that meets or exceeds current safety standards developed by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.
Let kids chose their own design, to increase their willingness to wear it.
It needs to be replaced if is dropped on to a hard surface, or involved in an accident (even if it still looks OK!)
Head injury is the leading cause of death in bicycle crashes, and the single most effective way to reduce the risk for head injury is to wear a helmet.

Supervision:

The level of adult supervision varies with the child's age and level of disability.
When in doubt, more supervision is better than less.
Remember, more accidents happen in low light situations, and on residential streets close to home.
Kids often don't pay attention to safety hazards

Bike Safety:

Kids should stay on the sidewalk until ALL these have been reached:
- They reach age 10
- They demonstrate that they know the rules of the road
- They demonstrate appropriate traffic skills and judgement.
Don't ride in the dark! If riding at dusk or dawn, wear reflective clothing and use a light on the bike.
Drink plenty of fluids before, during and after exercise.
Check with your doctor to make sure your child's medications don't place him at increased risk of overheating.

Proper Maintenance:

Make sure reflectors are secure.
Brakes should work properly.
Gears should shift smoothly.
Tires need to be tightly secured and properly inflated

What Type of Equipment is Available?

Three wheeled trikes:

Foot driven
- Fairly standard tricycles modified to meet special needs
- Suitable for kids with a range of physical limitations from mild balance problems to more severe disabilities.
- Add-ons: A front hand brake for safety. Trunk and hip supports, a fixed position wheel helps pedaling action, and foot sandal attachments to the pedals. An abduction wedge can be added to help with scissoring.
Hand driven tricycle
- Ideal for kids with with poor balance, reduced leg strength, incomplete para- or tetra-plegia, hemiparesis, generalized muscle weakness, amputation or back pain.
- a variety of seat options allows for needed stability
- Adjustable for growth

Strollers:

This is a good way for a child with more neurological involvement to get the feel of speed!

Sporty Options:

These have all the features of a high end bicycle
Shifting, multiple gears, various tire options and upgrades allow the handcycle to be customized to meet an individual's needs

How are adaptations chosen and what is available?

Outriggers:

can be used on standard bikes.
suitable for people with some difficulty with balance but good head and trunk control
may benefit kids with hemiparetic cerebral palsy, stroke, Downs syndrome, learning disabilities or dyspraxia.
not designed to be in constant contact with the ground.
Someone needing more stability should be considered for a tricycle.
adjustable for improving balance to allow more ground clearance.

Seats and Supports:

A variety of seats can be used
Adding trunk supports can customize the seat for safety.
Adductor support can help with scissoring.
As balance and trunk control improves, the add-ons can be taken off!