Bike riding is more than just a fun activity—it’s an opportunity to soak up the sunshine, get moving, and enjoy spending time with those you love. For children with disabilities, adaptive bikes open up a world of possibilities, offering a unique way to improve social connections, enhance cardiovascular health, and develop gross motor skills.
Ultimately, our paediatric therapists here at NAPA Centre love adaptive bikes because they can be a powerful tool for helping children achieve personalized developmental goals.
An adaptive bike is a bicycle modified to meet an individual’s specific needs. These bikes come in various forms, including tandem bicycles, tricycles, hand cycles, power-assist bicycles, and semi-recumbent or recumbent designs. Adaptive bikes are tailored to ensure accessibility, comfort, and support, enabling children with disabilities to experience the joy and benefits of cycling.
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Below, we share several research-supported benefits of adaptive bicycle riding.
A study by Thevarajah et al. found that clinically meaningful improvements were observed in participants who engaged in adaptive bicycle riding as part of their daily routine during the school day. Meaningful improvements were made regarding their gross motor function as measured with the Gross Motor Function Measure or GMFM, as well as an increase in their ability to attain patient-specific goals.
In the same study, children rated their enjoyment of adaptive cycling at an impressive 4.58 out of 5, showcasing its value as a fun and engaging activity.
Another study examined using a Strider balance bike for children with and without disabilities and the effect of sensory-motor, social, and emotional benefits. The sensory-motor activities were videotaped in pre and post-tests and were coded by a research assistant who was blind to the session number. found after a pre and post-test, there was an improvement in motor coordination, balance, and social interaction. The same study found statistically significant improvements in following rules, participation in daily activities, interacting with peers and feeling good about him/herself with use of the parent interview on the Visual Analog Scale.
Armstrong et al. published a systematic review of the benefits of adaptive cycling for children with cerebral palsy. The study showed improvements in muscle strength, cardiovascular fitness, and balance. The study also found an improvement and carryover in gross motor function in relation to standing and walking. Optimal training doses are yet to be determined, and no study has assessed if functional gains are retained over a period of time.
Lastly, Armstrong et al published an article looking at functional electrical stimulation (FES) cycling and adapted cycling to improve function in children with CP. Sessions were performed in a hospital setting with 3 sessions/week. Sessions included 30 minutes of FES cycling and 30 minutes of goal-directed training, including adaptive cycling. The comparison group continued with usual care. Standardized assessments included the GMFM and the Canadian occupational performance measure, COPM. The outcomes of this study demonstrate that a program including FES cycling with goal-directed training and adaptive cycling leads to improvements in gross motor function, goal performance, satisfaction, and peak cycling resistance in children with CP with GMFCS levels II-IV. For children who are unable to perform full revolutions when cycling, an ergometer provided automatic motor assistance; however, it continued to allow participants to initiate as much volitional input as possible, and when their pedaling cadence fell below a certain threshold, the ergometer would complete the revolution. Between the intervention group and the control group, GMFM scores were shown to be statistically significant from pre- to post-testing. Children in this study were found to be highly motivated when using the adaptive bicycle versus the FES stationary cycling, as children were found to be excited to receive their own adaptive bicycle to ride with their families.
This study shows the importance of obtaining an adaptive bicycle as it allows children with CP to experience independence and engage in peer-related activity, and pure enjoyment is likely to turn into long-term engagement with the activity. Long-term engagement then provides children with CP with increased opportunities for physical activity, meaningful improvements in gross motor function, and improved social relationships with peers and their families.
Did you know there are countless organizations dedicated to funding and building adaptive bicycles for children with various disabilities? These organizations have a shared goal of improving their social interaction, building upon relationships, and increasing enjoyment for children. Organizations like Ambucs, a nonprofit organization with over 150 chapters throughout the United States, aim at providing adaptive tricycles for children in their community. Variety The Children’s Charity is another national organization with chapters throughout the United States aiming at providing adaptive bicycles for children of all ages and disabilities.
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Trained therapists play a crucial role in teaching patients with various disabilities how to ride adaptive bikes and how to determine what bike is best for your child. Therapists can tailor adaptive bikes to the specific needs of the child to make sure they are well-supported. With the help of various organizations, therapists collaborate with chapter representatives to determine what supports and positioning would be best for the child. Therapists can break down the learning process of active pedaling, steering, balance, and changing the environment from simple to more complex environments as appropriate. Ultimately, the guidance of a skilled therapist ensures patient safety but empowers them to enjoy the various benefits, including enjoyment, improvements in gross motor function, balance, and overall confidence!
Allie Bronakowski is a paediatric physiotherapist at NAPA Centre Denver, where she received her DPT degree from Wheeling University. In her free time, she enjoys working out, hiking and skiing the mountains of Colorado, and trying fun restaurants with friends and family!
At NAPA Centre, we believe in creating individualized programs that address every child’s specific needs across a range of different therapies. Every child is unique, which means implementing unique therapy programs is the only way to help them truly reach their full potential. Contact us today to learn more about our process and our track record of results.
