"I Want to Ride My Bicycle, I Want to Ride My Biiiiiiiiiiike"

People sometimes ask me what I like to do or what I do with my time.  The answer is the same as it would be for anyone else, but things may just work a little differently.  For example, I enjoy riding my functional electrical stimulation (FES) bike.  It is biking, but with a twist!

As a ballet dancer, I was always quite active, and a large portion of my day consisted of physical activity.  When I was newly injured, I craved physical activity and struggled to find a way to satisfy that need.  It was not until several years after my injury that I finally found a way to actively use my body.  I joined a gym that specializes in helping people with physical disabilities exercise.  There I was able to ride a specialized stationary bicycle which utilizes electrical stimulation to shock my muscles into contracting, thereby powering the bicycle.  Thus I was able to engage larger muscle groups for longer periods of time than I had been able to with my standard physical therapy.  This meant I was able to move the bike with my body!

Cardio exercise is important for everyone, but not easily accomplished when your physical mobility is limited.  Finding a way to circumnavigate this limitation not only has had an immense impact on my physical health, it also improved my mental health by helping me regain the ability to carry out activities that I had enjoyed before my injury.

As my life got busier, I decided to invest in a bike for my home.  This allows me to ride for longer periods, and saves time by eliminating my commute to the gym.  I have become very accustomed to a rigorous exercise regimen of four to six hours of riding each week.  I have seen many benefits—physical, mental, and emotional.  The muscle tone in my lower extremities is not just good for a person sitting in a wheelchair, it rivals that of many people!  My respiratory health gets a boost and so does my immune system.  Not only do I recover more quickly when I get sick, I even get sick less frequently.

I did not realize what a positive and integral impact my bike had on my life until I was deprived of it.  Because this is very specialized equipment, when my bike broke down it had to be sent in for repairs.  During the time I was unable to exercise, I suffered from muscle atrophy and I realized that biking is not only important to maintaining my health, but it is a major component of the life I have built for myself. Regardless of whether you are using an FES bicycle, hand cycle, or traditional bike, enjoy the ride!