People With Disabilities... Like Cycling, Too!

The crew at May Street Bicycles has been on a mission to be community servants in many respects by hosting Boy Scout Bicycling Clinics, being a "Farm to Table" pick up location, triathlon clinics, shop rides and road trips.  However, our true calling is to help our friends and neighbors with physical and emotional disablities.  Last year we were fortunate to collaborate with Team RWB Sandhills Chapter in raising funds to purchase an Invacare Top End Handcycle.  Since then we have been able to allow many people who use wheelchairs to borrow the handcycle and enjoy the great outdoors and get some exercise.  We have also expanded our handcycle options by becoming an authorized Invacare Dealer.

Along with handcycles we now have three wheeled recumbent bicycles from Catrike.  These recumbents enable people with mobilty and balance issues the opportunity to enjoy cycling, as well.

Another initiative we have at May Street Bicycles is sponsoring the Team Adaptive Cycling Club. Team Adaptive provides a social and training resource for people with disabilities to exercise for fitness and competition. We currently have three athletes in training with focusing on competing in the Paralympics as well as riding long distances for an upcoming ride from Charlotte to Myrtle Beach.  To assist our Team Adaptive Cycling Club members with training, equipment, and transportation costs we are hosting the Team Adaptive Duathlon Training Series.   So we are asking fellow cyclists and fitness minded folks to come out and support this worthy cause. 

​Please read the following information to learn more about the importance of physical activity for people with disabilities.

Physical ActivityPhysical Activity Among People with Disabilities 
There is growing evidence that persons with higher levels of physical fitness have a reduced risk for chronic conditions such as diabetes, stroke, and heart disease.  This message has been targeted toward the general population for numerous years, but a significant disparity exists between the level of physical activity participation among people with disabilities compared to those without a disability.

• Data from Healthy People 2010 suggests that 56% of adults with a disability reported no leisure-time physical activity, compared to 36% of people without a disability.
• According to the 2002 National Health Interview Survey, only 22% of adults with disabilities (34% without disabilities) engaged in moderate physical activity and only 14% (25% without disabilities) engaged in vigorous physical activity. 
• According to data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 25.1% of people with a disability reported that they had not engaged in any physical activity in the past 30 days. 

Importance of Physical Activity
People with disabilities are less physically active than people without disabilities, yet are at risk for the same chronic health conditions.  People with disabilities are also at risk for secondary conditions that are related to a primary disability.  Secondary conditions can be medical, social or emotional in nature.  Many of these conditions (fatigue, obesity, social isolation, deconditioning, etc.) can be improved or eliminated with increases in physical activity. 
In addition to prevention of secondary conditions and overall health and well-being, physical activity can be important in the day-to-day life of people with disabilities.  The strength and stamina that is developed by participating in physical activity can help maintain a higher level of independence.  Increases in physical activity may also affect a person's ability to go to school, work, and participate in all aspects of community life.
Being physically active is one of the most important steps that Americans of all ages can take to improve their health. The 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans provides science-based guidance to help Americans aged 6 and older improve their health through appropriate physical activity. These benefits are even more important if you have a disability, since people with disabilities have a tendency to live less active lifestyles.

The following is a list of Physical Activity Guidelines for Adults with Disabilities from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services:

• Adults with disabilities, who are able to, should get at least 150 minutes a week of moderate-intensity, or 75 minutes a week of vigorous-intensity aerobic activity, or an equivalent combination of moderate- and vigorous-intensity aerobic activity. Aerobic activity should be performed in episodes of at least 10 minutes, and preferably, it should be spread throughout the week.
• Adults with disabilities, who are able to, should also do muscle-strengthening activities of moderate or high intensity that involve all major muscle groups on 2 or more days a week, as these activities provide additional health benefits.
• When adults with disabilities are not able to meet the Guidelines, they should engage in regular physical activity according to their abilities and should avoid inactivity.
• Adults with disabilities should consult their health-care provider about the amounts and types of physical activity that are appropriate for their abilities.

Also, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Physical Activity Guidelines for Active Children and Adolescents, children and adolescents with disabilities are more likely to be inactive than those without disabilities. Youth with disabilities should work with their health-care provider to understand the types and amounts of physical activity appropriate for them. When possible, children and adolescents with disabilities should meet the Guidelines. When young people are not able to participate in appropriate physical activities to meet the Guidelines, they should be as active as possible and avoid being inactive.

Yours in Cycling and Fitness,
Greg Combs
President of Fun
​May Street Bicycles is not your typical bike shop. Sure we sell awesome bicycles, provide bicycle repairs, and rental bikes all at great prices. But we do a great deal more such as dynamic bike fitting, metabolic testing, altitude training, and personal training.