Maybe you have a fabric idea

[massbikebabe]

Girls...

I have finally taken that big step and climbed onto my trainer successfully!!!
(I actually had an unsuccessful attempt at Christmas and ended up doing an endo off my trainer...have the scar to prove it!!)

Anyway, I have found that my braces fit into my cycling shoes, however my brain still does not want my leg to clip and unclip, so I have gone back to platform pedals for the time being. The problem is...this brace is going to be with me for a long time, probably the rest of my life. It goes from my toes, along my foot, to my knee, then to my thigh, where it locks. I can pedal a little with the brace on...but no pedaling at all with brace off. What I need advice on is, 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 and all help. I am making some progress in that I can make my left leg pedal every third stroke or so, and to me that is cause for happy dance. I never thought this would happen!! I climbed back up on my trusty Trek because I seem to be losing muscle mass on my left leg very quickly...and I don't want to have to start all over again!!!

karen
trying hard to be ready for spring

[gilly]

Hi Karen. Sorry, I have no idea as to how you might pad your brace

But hey girl YOU'RE PEDALLING Way to go

[mary9761]

I wear carpal tunnel splints periodically and I have cut up a pair of hosiery tights to help with keeping my hands/arms from sticking to the plastic material. If I'm correct in thinking that you are talking about the same kind of material, you might TRY cutting the leg out of a pair of these to put on your leg before putting your brace on and see if that helps? I know the ones I've used are similar to the material they've cut at OT when I was fitted for the carpal splints.
I hope you find something that can help you, keep us up to date and WAY TO GO!!!
Good luck and be careful
Mary

[Lise]

Hi, Karen,

I don't have an answer for you, but I want to add my voice to the cheers you hear all around you here on the TE forum! Good for you! Keep us posted. Best wishes, Lise

[margo49]

Go, lady, go!
I reckon a physiotherapist would be your best bet for advice
or maybe
The Special Olympics people (whoever and wherever)

[Surlygirl]

Go Karen, Go Karen, Go Karen
Way to go! So happy for you!

[bouncybouncy]

WOW....i was offline for a few months and missed your thread "where i've been"...just looked it up and i must say HUGE KUDOS to you...there is one inspiration after another around here!!!!

as far as material i can't say i could help but finding out what is used for prosthetics is my first thought...i remember a mention of that when the wounded warriors were cycling across the states, a couple of them lost limbs and had chafing issues...just a thought.

Glad to hear you are back on the bike...pedal on!!!!! but watch out for Christmas trees

[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!

[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

[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...