Does anyone know of any organizations that do recumbent trikes for disabled veterans?

2019-05-09T01:39:57-04:00

I am a 100% disabled OIF/OEF veteran with TBI , Spinal injury, and Nerve damage, and i have been told that this would be a great way to get some much needed excersize with out doing any more damage. I contacted a group called Angel Bikes but they have never responded so any help anyone can give me would be much appreciated.

Response by SPC Mike Lake made May 9 at 2019 8:53 AM

2019-05-09T08:53:20-04:00

That would be great

Response by Lt Col Charlie Brown made May 9 at 2019 9:21 AM

2019-05-09T09:21:00-04:00

https://www.disabledveterans.org/2012/01/19/va-buys-disabled-veterans-ipads-and-more/
or try Wounded Warrior project

VA Voc Rehab buys Disabled Veterans iPads and More

If you are wondering what VA Voc Rehab will buy for your training, check out this article. Here is a list of services and items VA is required to buy.

Response by PO3 Kenneth Davis made May 9 at 2019 10:18 AM

2019-05-09T10:18:04-04:00

Go to AMBUCS.org You will need to complete the paper work and I suspect you will be put on a waiting list

Response by SSG Byron Howard Sr made May 9 at 2019 12:32 PM

2019-05-09T12:32:58-04:00

Try wounded warriors. I new a guy who hadvhiscHD converted I believe he went though the VA.

Response by CPL Joseph Jones made May 9 at 2019 2:09 PM

2019-05-09T14:09:35-04:00

See your hospital's Recreation Therapist to procure a recumbent trike. Depending on where you live the VA pays for a trike. You need to live near bike paths so you can regularly ride.

Response by SGT Steve McFarland made May 9 at 2019 7:30 PM

2019-05-09T19:30:52-04:00

You might try Tera-Trike. They are a recumbent trike manufacturer, but they might be will to do a custom for you.

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made May 16 at 2019 12:20 PM

2019-05-16T12:20:29-04:00

http://angelbikes.org/qualifications.html

I found the site, which I expect you've doubtless seen...purely as a suggestion, if you as I expect use a VA hospital by you, ask the internist you're assigned to for a referral to physical med and rehab (PM&R), not PT or OT, PM&R are physicians, whether MD (allopath) or DO (osteopath) also termed physiatrists...see if you can get a consult with one, and explicitly get an endorsement for such a bike, either through that group, in case VA might perhaps reimburse for it, or, maybe, also, you could either a VA internist of VA physiatrist for an outside referral to VA Choice...given you're 100%, with all you describe, I'd most definitely also ask all the mil/vet staffs at all three Congress offices as well...just get the the Privacy Act (PA) forms, or they can't help you, that's just Federal law, you need to give those in, they need to be renewed annually, we've gathered...see also if VA has an exercise physiologist, or ask for a VA Choice referral to one outside if they don't, also by the VA internist and/or physiatrist where you are...VA also has cardiac rehab, you might perhaps also ask for a cardio endorsement, they might want you to use their own equipment, however, you might perhaps at least just ask, you've got nothing to lose by trying, certainly...honestly, I don't know if the Congress offices would endorse such a request, typically, they inquire, as you doubtless know, not recommend, as a generality, at least from what we've seen, I also have another group you could ask as well, aside from the major vet groups, lemme send the other link, OK?

Qualifications

A. Hand Cycle - Three-wheeled, hand powered (right or left hand controls). For leg amputees, traumatic brain injury veterans ("TBI") with serious balance issues resulting in a total inability to ride a standard two wheel bike, spinal cord injuries, severe knee and/or hip injuries. Seats are adjustable and can be reclined to the recumbent position for the comfort of the rider. A device can also be added to support a prosthetic arm.

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made May 16 at 2019 12:29 PM

2019-05-16T12:29:49-04:00

http://www.vetadvocates.org

We used NOVA after my whole total perm disability thing just got too complex for a vet group we used, though they did try, certainly...NOVA is pretty much the top of the food chain for VA-disability attorneys, as well as vet groups they're also hooked into, you can also try law school vet-law clinics, though they don't and/or can't always take all cases, unfortunately...trust me, whatever minimal consult a NOVA attorney would want, ours was $500, well worth it, check their search engine for who they have by you, and/or call their office, our guy did 3 yrs active, plus did 35-40 yrs VA-disability law, he knew more about it than God, got us pro-bono help from partners at a large law group he did stuff with as well, and was one of the principal reasons my wife and I very definitely learned there's a decided reason God invented attorneys, honest, if you wanna chat more, I'm here, I'll try to suggest more if I can...actually, about the Angel Bikes group, did you actually call them, maybe ask for a supervisor, manager, and/or executive director? Maybe the vet groups or the VA hospital by you know of them as well...just some other food for thought, you know? I hadn't run into a question like yours before, it did actually kinda get my mental gears turning, obviously, hope all that was of at least some use...you might also want and/or need to actually file a claim with VA, though you'd likely need extensive clinical endorsements from the VA hospital or those you see outside VA clinically, obviously...I'd also call the VA patient advocates, they're always attached to social work, all VA-disabled, I'm fairly sure, are assigned a social worker, however, the patient advocates, while part of social work, are separate...I trained at sevl VA hosps before my disability, so I've been around how they're all organized for a long time, plus having been a patient in them as well, as I'd said, I'm here if you wanna chat more, no rush, whenever you want, OK? And you'll likely need clinical endorsements from neurology, orthopedics, PT, OT, as well, just more food for thought, OK?

Home

Response by LCpl Richard Baldwin made Jun 2 at 2019 9:09 PM

2019-06-02T21:09:11-04:00

Check with Utah Trikes. Not sure if they do any thing, but I do know they have some awesome trikes.

Response by SFC Quinn Chastant made Jun 16 at 2020 4:24 PM

2020-06-16T16:24:57-04:00

I know my local VA facility has a Veteran Athlete Program for those with serious disabilities and have seen recumbent trikes on the campus. One of the Recreation Therapists there who recently transferred to a facility in TX was a participant in the athletics program as well.

As I really don't know much more than that, I would suggest talking to a VA Physical Therapist, and asking there along with placing an inquiry through Recreational Therapy and a VA Social Worker. They should have a much better lead on those programs than I do.

Another couple of resources are:
o The Disabled American Veterans, aka the DAV, they should have information on the recreational and rehabilitation programs in your area as well as sponsoring groups.
o American Legion, the American Legion and it's Auxiliary sponsor several different programs nationwide through the VA system, I participate in the AL Aux's Creative Arts and Music Festival each year.
o Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, aka VFW. Like the American Legion, the VFW also has Service Officers to assist with paper work and opening the process to get things moving for all Veterans. Various Posts also support different functions which the VA may host.

Finally I'm attaching a link which might help some in pointing the direction to follow it is from the VA in Salt Lake City one of the attached pages there has a good list of services and organizations which might have what you're looking for.

https://www.saltlakecity.va.gov/services/rec_therapy/index.asp

index.asp

Response by SPC Darrell Woodard made Aug 1 at 2020 11:57 PM

2020-08-01T23:57:45-04:00

https://www.arkansasfreedomfund.org/ helps Arkansas veterans get donated trikes or bikes.
I started riding a recumbent trike 4 months ago because my doctor said she was going to put me on insulin. Now my blood sugar is in the normal range and riding the trike is fun and healthy.

Arkansas Freedom Fund

Arkansas Freedom Fund provides outdoor rehabilitative recreational events for Veterans. Through Veteran outdoors programs of cycling, golf, hunting, fishing, hiking and martial arts.

Response by SPC Darrell Woodard made Aug 2 at 2020 12:01 AM

2020-08-02T00:01:05-04:00

You really need to read this page!
https://www.wemakecyclingeasy.com/2017/09/03/recumbent-tricycle-resources-wounded-military/
and
https://www.wemakecyclingeasy.com/2017/09/13/adaptive-cycling/

recumbent-tricycle-resources-wounded-military

Response by SPC Darrell Woodard made Aug 2 at 2020 12:19 AM

2020-08-02T00:19:41-04:00

https://weareprojecthero.org/about

Founded in 2008, Project Hero is a groundbreaking national non-profit organization dedicated to helping Veterans and First Responders affected by PTSD, TBI and injury achieve rehabilitation, recovery, and resilience in their daily lives and increasing awareness to combat the national mental health emergency posed by PTSD and TBI.

Project Hero programs including Ride 2 Recovery events and Project Hero HUB Community Centers produce positive outcomes at lower costs and reduce drug-based therapies. The organization also builds and provides adaptive bikes to physically-challenged and injured Veterans and First Responders and founded the Project Hero Institute for Mental Health to support clinical research programs in 2016.

About Us - Project Hero

Founded in 2008, Project Hero is a groundbreaking national non-profit organization dedicated to helping Veterans and First Responders affected by PTSD, TBI and injury achieve rehabilitation, recovery,and resilience in their daily lives and increasing awareness to combat the national mental health emergency posed by PTSD and TBI.

Response by SPC Darrell Woodard made Aug 2 at 2020 12:27 AM

2020-08-02T00:27:50-04:00

https://operationcomfort.org/cycling/

Cycling was the first adaptive sports program Operation Comfort started in 2005.
We have a fleet of hand cycles, road bikes, recumbent trikes and tandems we adapt and fit to you! Rides are lead by our cycling coaches with assistance from the program Ambassador Athletes.

Cycling – Operation Comfort

Response by SPC Darrell Woodard made Aug 2 at 2020 12:31 AM

2020-08-02T00:31:06-04:00

https://paptsd.org/about/

To provide high quality bicycles to qualified veterans through an application process.

About | Pedal Against PTSD

Sharing the sport of cycling with military and veterans that struggle with PTSD as a means to overcome this epidemic