Adaptive Bikes for Cerebral Palsy

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Riding a bicycle or tricycle is a beloved pastime and a beneficial way for children to have fun with peers while getting exercise. Adaptive bikes for cerebral palsy help children with physical limitations enjoy the freedom of bike riding with the help of adaptations. The modifications vary depending on each child’s needs, and these bikes and trikes come in different sizes and varieties.

What Kind of Bike Is Best for a Child with Cerebral Palsy?

Because there is so much variation in abilities and limitations among children with cerebral palsy, there is no single best bike. The best type of bike for a child with cerebral palsy depends on their age and other individual factors. Fortunately, parents can find a variety of types of adapted and accessible bikes for their kids.

Adaptive Trikes

Adaptive trikes are designed specifically for children with disabilities by offering three wheels for stability and adjustable handlebars and pedals.

Also known as therapy trikes, these are designed to help mobility-challenged children enjoy riding and promote muscle strength and tone.

These are some of the types of adaptations available to accommodate all kinds of children and their needs:

• A trunk support system to provide stability
• Chest harnesses
• Different options for the seat back to allow for varying support needs
• Adjustable handlebars
• Hand cranks
• Wrist straps for security and better grip control
• Self-leveling pedals for easy access and toe clips for security
• Direct drive gearing to make pedaling easier
• Electric motor assist
• A speed dampener to allow the caregiver to control the speed
• Locking handlebars to control the ability of the rider to steer
• A caregiver brake and rear steering for assistance and safety

With multiple options and adaptability, these trikes allow parents and caregivers to provide a child with exactly what they need to be mobile. An appropriately adapted trike can help a child build muscle and improve mobility.

Adaptive tricycles aren’t just for young children. They come in different sizes to accommodate toddlers, elementary-aged kids, teenagers, and adults. Some trikes come with a standard bicycle seat, while others have wheelchair-style seating.

Handcycles

A handcycle is a three-wheeled tricycle powered by hand cranks. These cycles are ideal for children who have limited or no mobility in their legs. As with other types of adaptive bikes, handcycles can be modified to each person’s needs.

For example, some handcycles allow foot pedaling while using hand cranks at the same time. This helps increase the child’s range of motion while stimulating movement. It also helps build coordination by encouraging the arms and legs to work together.

Other handcycles are powered solely by the arms and hands. The brakes on most arm-powered handcycles are located on the handlebars.

Handcycling has become so popular since its invention that it has become a significant way for disabled people to compete in sports. Handcycling is now considered an official sport at the Paralympic Games.

Adaptive Stationary Bikes

A stationary bike may not be as fun as riding outdoors on sunny days with friends, but it offers countless benefits to children with cerebral palsy. A stationary bike is primarily used as a pediatric therapy exercise option. It improves cardiovascular fitness while targeting specific needs.

According to the U.S. National Institutes of Health, previous statements that “effortful exercises” would harm children with cerebral palsy have been unfounded. Instead, a study carried out by numerous pediatricians entitled “PEDALS Project” showed that stationary biking is beneficial for kids with CP.[1]

The study found that children had improved endurance, motor function, and strength after participating in the program for 12 weeks.

Stationary bikes are adjustable and can be modified to each child’s needs. For example, the seat can be widened and reclined, and the pedals can be adjusted for size. Most adapted stationary bikes have a restraint system to support the upper body as well as ankle straps and braces.

Recumbent Bikes

Recumbent bikes allow a child to ride an adaptive bike with a reclining seat that helps with weight distribution, making cycling easier.

Recumbent bikes typically have two wheels in the back and a larger wheel in the front of the bicycle. The extra front wheel helps children with stability while riding. Sometimes, recumbent bikes have two wheels in the front and one in the back.

Recumbent bikes can help address physical problems many children with CP experience in the neck, back, and arms, such as stiffness, spasticity, and weakness.

Work with your child’s pediatrician to determine which type of recumbent bike would work best for your child. Recumbent bikes with one front wheel sit higher from the ground than those with two front wheels.

Recumbent bikes with one front wheel are more accessible because they are easy to get on and off. On the other hand, recumbent bikes with two front wheels usually have better stability when making turns.

Tandem Bikes

Tandem bikes allow someone else to ride with a disabled child, often an adult who pedals while the child enjoys the ride.

Tandem bikes have different designs, but for children with cerebral palsy, the most common choice is the bike that allows the child to sit in a front seat attached to the front of the bike while the other person sits on the back seat of the bike, while pedaling and steering.

Tandem bikes can come with pedals in the back as well as pedals in the front. The front pedals are lifted to the child’s level so they can help pedal. If the child needs a break from pedaling, they can stop while the person in the back seat of the bike continues.

Another type of tandem bike includes a side-by-side tandem tricycle that lets two people pedal at the same time and at their own rate. Both types of tandem bikes allow disabled children to take breaks when needed while still enjoying a bike ride.

Adaptive Bike Prices

The cost of an adaptive bike varies, depending on the type of bike and the number of modifications.

Adaptive bikes can range roughly anywhere from $100 to $5,000. The costs of caring for a child with cerebral palsy can be demanding on parents and caregivers, and the additional cost of a bike can be daunting.

If you need funding for an adaptive bike, there are several options to consider:

Insurance

Some medical insurance providers cover the price of an adaptive bike if it falls within qualifications.

Medicaid may cover the expenses under specialized medical equipment and supplies if the bike is deemed medically necessary. Most states require you to submit a claim under “HCPCS Code E1399 DME Miscellaneous,” which should be filled out by the child’s doctor.[2]

Most states also require the child’s doctor to prescribe the need for a bike and deem it necessary before insurance will cover the cost. However, each state has different rules and regulations, so it’s important to understand your state’s laws.

Remember that Medicare will generally pay for the most basic or cost-effective type of bike, which may mean additional modifications will not be covered.

State Financial Loan Programs

Each state also offers financial loan programs. In California, for instance, a program called “California Foundation for Independent Living Centers” offers families affordable assistance. New York offers the “Technology Related Assistance for Individuals with Disabilities (TRAID).”[3]

Contact your child’s pediatrician or caseworker for more information on financial loan programs. You can also check with the Rehabilitation Engineering Society of North America (RESNA) for contact information for each state.

Fundraising

Fundraising is another option. However, before starting any fundraising event for a disabled child, it’s important to consult with a cerebral palsy attorney, who can help set up a trust for any funds earned.

Grants

Another option is obtaining a grant. Charitable organizations such as the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Easter Seals, United Way, and many more may be able to help you afford an adaptive bike for your child.

Organizations That Provide Adaptive Bikes

Some charitable organizations provide adaptive bikes to children with disabilities:

• AdaptAbility. AdaptAbility is a program based in Brooklyn that offers custom-adapted bikes to children with disabilities. The bikes are given free of charge and are customized for each child’s needs and limitations. Families complete an online application to be considered for a free bike.
• Bikes to Go. Bikes to Go is a program offered by Adaptive Sports Connection. It provides custom adaptive bikes to both children and adults with disabilities. The bikes can be used for recreation or therapy. Families who can afford them can purchase the bikes. Adaptive Sports funds part of the cost for families who cannot afford the bike and helps the family fundraise for the rest.
• Variety. Variety is a children’s charity that grants medical, communication, and recreational or inclusionary equipment grants. The latter category includes adaptive bikes.
• Kids Bike Lane. This group is based in Livermore, California, and provides a limited number of adaptive bikes to disabled children at no cost.
• The Great Bike Giveaway. This program is an online contest for free adaptive bikes. The giveaway occurs once a year, but the program offers additional support year-round. It provides a platform for and assistance with fundraising for families to purchase adaptive bikes. It also offers discounted pricing on adaptive bikes.

Giving a disabled child the chance to ride a bike allows them to enjoy what other children do. If your child cannot ride a standard bicycle, consider adaptive options.