Who
will the AmTryke® therapeutic tricycle benefit?
This tricycle will benefit children with low muscle tone
(like spina bifida) and also children with cerebral palsy who need to
build up normal muscle tone and control. The benefits include increased
coordination, improved muscle strength, and improved balance.
Some children with
mild coordination and balance problems can benefit from using the AmTryke®
therapeutic tricycle. They are usually the ones who can not ride a bicycle
or tricycle. Some children have progressed from the AmTryke® therapeutic
tricycle to a regular bicycle with training wheels. The trykes have
also shown to help children walk with less assistive devices.
What size child
will an AmTryke® therapeutic tricycle fit?
The general age range seems to be three to eight years
for the regular 12" front wheel size and seven to pre-teen or early
teen years for the large 16" front wheel size. It does depend on your
child’s size and strength. Each AmTryke® tricycle is sturdily built.
The regular size weighs 40 pounds and the larger size weighs 55 pounds.
It does take some strength to power it. As a therapeutic tool, someone
may need to act as a helper until the child learns to ride and builds
the strength needed.
Supervising
Play
Remember you didn’t jump on your first bike and ride away
into the sunset. It took some practice and learning; your child will
need some help. It will be fun to work together in learning a new skill.
Children should
be supervised since the child is strapped onto the AmTryke® tricycle.
A smooth, level surface is preferred. The tryke has a restricted turning
radius, and a child may have to back up to change directions. The tryke
may turn over if the riding surface isn’t level. A helmet is strongly
recommended for safe riding. When the child is fatigued, he should be
removed. Kids can ride daily as any normal child would.
Why is the turning
radius restricted?
The turning radius can be restricted three ways: 1) straight
ahead steering 2) twenty degrees from straight-ahead, or 3) full turning
radius. It takes some practice and strength to steer the AmTryke®
tricycle, when using the hand cranks. For kids with less strength, you
may want to consider restricting the turning radius to straight ahead.
This keeps the front wheel from turning back and forth as the child
pedals.
Changing the
Turning Radius
Based on the strength of the child, you may opt for
one of the three steering, options: 1) No turning radius 2) twenty degree
turning radius, or 3) full turning radius.
- No turning
radius- With 2 #12 self-tapping hex-headed screws on opposite sides
of the sidewall of the main vertical steering shaft, the tryke has
no turning radius; it only travels straight ahead.
- Twenty degree
turning radius- Left side #12 self-tapping hex-headed screw in place.
- Full turning
radius- Both #12 Self-tapping hex headed screws are removed.
NOTE: Store
the screws in a safe place so that, if in the future you wish to restrict
the turning radius, you may do so by simply re-installing the screws in
the steering shaft side walls.
Important! Important!
Feel free to adapt the AmTryke® tricycle to your child.
Add on anything that will help it work for your child, or take off anything
your child does not need. We have had parents and therapists remove
the pedal cups, add Velcro straps for the wrist, and add blocks to the
pedals for short legs.
Reversing the
foot/pedal relationship
Some therapists like to reverse the relationship between
the foot pedals and the hand cranks. The only way to accomplish this
is to remove the chain guard, unfasten the chain, rotate the hand cranks
one half turn, and reassemble the chain and guard. Any local bicycle
shop can easily do this. If you are reasonably mechanical, you can do
it yourself.
Feedback…
Please let us know how the AmTryke® therapeutic tricycle
works for you. Send us a picture of your smiling child on the tryke.
We like to publish the pictures in the AMBUCS™ Magazine.
This shows the volunteers who support this project the benefits of the
AmTryke® Project.
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