Maybe you have a fabric idea

[Irulan]

Girls...
How can I pad this brace so I can use it in the hot weather, or on the indoor spinner? Any of you sewers have any idea what type of material would be best against plastic and skin??? Are there any physical therapists out there who have gotten a left sided plegic like myself back onto a bike??? Do you think I could buy chamois to mold into the brace??

I sincerely appreciate any

I can probably make a fabric recommedation but I need more clarifacation on what exactly the needs are -
Padding?
wicking- moisture transport?
insulation?

I've got some ideas, but let me know if those are the right needs first.

Irulan

[SadieKate]

Yeah!!!! You made my day!

I really don't know, but contact the Special Olympics staff. I bet they could put you in touch with some athletes who wear DME stuff and run marathons. Does the Special Olympics have cycling? Maybe some folks who have personal experience.

SK Dancing around the room for you!

[Trek420]

SadieKate, you do mean Para'lympics not the Special Olympics right? ;-)

also contact BORP, a Bay area adaptive athetic organization. Stay tuned while I do a little research, I wear a brace when doing anything that involves lateral movement. Not as elaborate as yours but...I think I have an idea.

this is just one example:

http://www.townsenddesign.com/products.aspx?ID=1-2

The brace I wear sounds similar to yours although nowhere near as extensive, it's just the knee. Butt-loads of cloth, velcro and waaaay too hot, there's friction and hard to keep in place and.....

If I get a new one I'd go carbon fiber. All the support and would be cool (temprature wise). Some will even let you go custom color so you match the bike, favorite quote printed on it, whatever.


doing the happy dance around the room for you!

Also, OT to this...Spazz just got an apartment!!

[SadieKate]

SadieKate, you do mean Para'lympics not the Special Olympics right? ;-)

also contact BORP, a Bay area adaptive athetic organization.

doing the happy dance around the room for you!

Perhaps! Way back when didn't Special Olympics work with all special needs athletics? Not that we all aren't special in our own way.

You all do know what Sarah means in Hebrew, don't you?

Sadie "The Princess" Kate

ps - Trek, Thanks for bringing me into the 21st century.

[CorsairMac]

Oh Karen - that is the just about the bestest news I've received all day! Huge Virtual Hugs go to you my SAC friend!!

[Irulan]

topic drift, can't help myself.

Speaking of paralympics, check out the DVD "Murderball" about the guys who play wheelchair rugby, freaking inspirational...

[massbikebabe]

Hey Thanks Guys!!!

I actually have my son and hubby to thank because they made my bike and trainer sort of wheelchair accessible!!! Meaning I have lots of room to get on and then I have poles to keep me from listing over to the left all the time. (A
slight issue with balance).

Thank-you Penny for your reply...I am looking to make a sleeve of some sort that can cover at least the AFO splint on my lower leg. Right now it is just skin on plastic and I have limited feeling in the lower part of my leg, so it would be easy to get an abrasion, or infection. I was thinking of chamois but my hubby thinks that may be to thick, and is worried it may cause more problems. Something wicking would be good. I would prefer to sew a sleeve that would be tight, and not leave wrinkles that could cause skin breakdown. Something that I could take off to wash etc. etc. I don't want to glue anything onto the splint for fear I would damage it...it was very expensive to have built, (Thanking God for health Insurance). Unfortunately, without my splint I spend more time on the ground than I do standing upright...so it has become a very important part of my life.

Thank-you to my local TE gurl Surly who sews...I think we could come up with a design!!!

Thanks to you all for cheering me on. First the trainer and maybe later this month I may try a road spin...the balance issue still is looming large!!

I love you guys
karen

[Embellina]

No advice for you, I just wanted to add my voice to the chorus! Way to go!

[solobiker]

Hi there, I have worked with people with braces before. what kind of brace is it? It sounds like an AFO that extends up to your knee. does the ankle portion flex? what kind of material is it made out of? does it slide on or are there a lot of straps? just asking for skin integrity reasons

[MomOnBike]

I think I'd ask my Physical Therapist if I were you. (I assume you have one) or the folk you got the brace from.

Most PT people I know do a little happy dance of their own when a patient shows your kind of initiative. I'd bet they'd be more than happy to help.

There is probably some sort of miracle fabric/padding out there they use for chafing. It will be expensive. Find out what the pros use, then find your own, cheaper, alternative.

Good luck in your hunt. And let us know...

[Blueberry]

Karen - you are such an inspiration to us all!

As far as padding, I wonder whether you could use the adhesive moleskin that hikers use when they blister. It's sticky on one side, so you could stick it to your brace and soft and padded on the other. Just an idea

I'd also second the recommendation of talking to the special olympics folks - hopefully they'll have some suggestions for you!

Good luck!

Carrie Anne