Bike Riding for Amputee
Bicycle riding is considered as perfect sport for amputees. It is normal for an amputee to have doubts about weather he is capable of riding a bicycle, but riding a bike in his condition is not impossible. A little confidence and initial adaptation to the bike with the prosthesis will boost the will to ride. It is not hard even for a recent amputee that previously was riding a bicycle. The motor skills are already there and minor balance adjust will do the trick.
Using prosthesis for riding a bicycle depends on the amputation itself. All lower limb amputees are recommended to use prosthesis, except hemi’s DO and short AK’s. Although it will be difficult and the other leg does most of the work, exercising with prosthetic will do god for the muscle in the residual limb.
People with amputee, have balance issue in the beginning with the prosthesis. This is quite natural. As the further use their prosthesis, balance is restored easily on normal bases. This goes the same when amputees return to physical activities like swimming and riding a bicycle.
A starting point for an amputee to ride a bicycle is to select the proper frame size. The frame size is from the center of the bottom bracket to the top of the seat tube. Probably the best way to establish the right height is to stand flat footed on the frame, the distance between frame and the crouch should be from 2 cm to 4 cm (5 to 1 inch) and from 6 to 10 cm for mountain bikes. The bike sizes for women are slightly different.
Seat height depends on the full height, level of amputation and the type of shoes. It is recommended that the seat should be adjusted so that you can touch the ground with the toes on the good leg. If the amputee decides to stay stationary on the prosthesis, then he should be able to touch the ground with full prosthesis grip.
There are several methods to place the prosthesis firmly on the pedals. Regular toe clips or straps are logical solutions. However, they seem to be difficult for the prosthesis, because moving the pedals place the toes on the pedal. Most of the prosthetics are setup for walking; there are prosthetics that are set toe-out, quite good for bike riding.
Safety gear is also required: helmet, fingerless gloves, and sunglasses. These will ease confidence in good riding. It is also recommended to look after the prosthetic not fall out.
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Tags: Bike for Amputee
