Seniors Discover Joy of "Big Red Bike"

A nursing home is often thought to be a sad place, full of senior citizens who just lie in bed all day or stare at television. The constant routine of meals, baths, bingo, and therapy can become monotonous even in the best of homes, which may explain why the introduction of an adult series AmTryke would cause such excitement

The Life Care Center of Haltom in Forth Worth, TX is a skilled nursing facility where Mid Cities AMBUCS member Stacey Bauerle works as a therapist. During last year’s AMBUCS National Conference in San Diego, Bauerle learned about the new 2700 AmTryke Series and thought that the her facility would be a great place to let older riders try this new model out.

Released just last year, the 2700 AmTryke Series was developed at the request of therapists who were seeking a therapeutic tricycle for higher functioning riders.

After getting permission from the administrator at Life Care to establish a demosite there, a 2721 model AmTryke was ordered and assembled.  At first, Stacey wasn’t sure how well it would be received. After all, it would take up valuable space in the rehab gym, and there was concern that there might be a shortage of patients able to ride it.  But hoping for the best, she and her husband Cliff delivered the tryke on the morning of Wednesday, January 9, 2008. The Life Care rehab team was immediately curious and identified a patient to test out the “Big Red Bike.” This patient got on the bike, and started riding down the hall and all around the building. Success!! After that, nearly every patient who was able to stand and willing to ride was placed on the bike.

The results were amazing. The patients were getting exercise while having fun at the same time. The entire staff was smiling.

 One of the memorable moments was when a 95-year-old woman who had suffered a stroke was placed on the bike. She said “turn me loose and let me go!” She rode around the building and when it was time to get off she said triumphantly, “I’m alive!” The elder woman brought her daughter back the next day to show her the bike and to ride it again. “Are you going to ride the bike?,” she asked the other patients.  “It’s fun!”  This same patient now insists on riding the bike almost every day she is in therapy.

The therapists have put patients on the bike who previously struggled to move with a walker and assistance. By strapping their feet on the pedals, these patients were able to ride the bike. One patient was unable to pedal, but the bike was still used for building balance and trunk control. An outpatient rode the bike in the parking lot, and declared it “a real treat”.  

It is interesting to note that many of the patients at the nursing home grew up during the Great Depression and never had a bicycle. Another 96-year-old woman who rode the AmTryke had never ridden a bike of any kind before!! Imagine, riding a bike for the first time at age 96! 

It is exciting to imagine what innovative type of therapeutic uses the rehab team at Life Care will discover for the “Big Red Bike!” The therapists are looking forward to identifying those patients who may benefit from having a bike of their own to continue to exercise and built strength and endurance after they go home.