Are you passionate about adaptive cycling and the impact we’re making for individuals with disabilities? Let us know! We are always looking for volunteers to help us make our vision a reality, whether it's through providing adaptive equipment or supporting movement initiatives for those with disabilities. We'll help you find a way to volunteer that best suits you. We're excited to have you join the team!
Exercise and movement can induce changes at the cellular level that improve our health and well-being. While there are numerous movement environments available for able-bodied individuals, the disabled population often relies on access to enriched environments, which are limited in options. The Enabling Movement Foundation is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization created to raise funds for the construction, maintenance, and operation of an adaptive recreational facility tailored for the disabled population. Additionally, our mission includes assisting in the procurement of adaptive equipment that enables movement and promotes independence for those with disabilities. We invite you to support our mission through your donations of time and money. Together, we can make a difference.
Movement is:
- Paramount to health and well-being
- A building block of perception and learning
- A promoter of healthy gene expression while repressing unhealthy genes
- Exercise can reset the aging time clock (Shields, 2017).
Immobility can cascade a series of secondary complications, such as decreased range of motion and muscle weakness. When coupled with chronological aging, these issues can exponentially escalate impairments.
Aging evidence suggests that able-bodied function declines with age and immobility. Imagine the detrimental effects on the disabled population, who are already faced with medical diagnoses that hinder mobility.
Regular movement and daily exercise are not readily accessible to all populations. Those with disabilities need specialized adaptive tools, including adaptive cycling options, to make daily exercise more attainable.
Traditional Adaptive Recreation modifies the nature of activities to allow disabled individuals to participate in recreational pursuits. For example, if someone does not have the strength to walk, they can engage in activities using a wheelchair. However, these participants may not achieve the same joint movements as able-bodied individuals, thus missing out on the full physiological benefits of those movements. They continue to face debilitating secondary conditions, such as joint contractures and bone density concerns.
Our Adaptive Recreation Concept allows disabled individuals to participate in recreation and movement just as able-bodied individuals do, without altering the nature of the activity. They are able to engage in the same movements by utilizing assistive technology to compensate for muscle weakness and limb impairments.
This represents “TRUE” movement participation versus wheelchair-dependent participation through assistive technology, offering total gym access via overhead lift networks and partial weight-bearing mechanisms.
Partial weight-bearing can provide:
- Sit-to-stand assist
- Safe gait assist
Specialized equipment includes whole-body vibration machines, standing frames, gait trainers, and sophisticated switch-activated mechanisms. Through specialized adaptive equipment and technology, our concept empowers the disabled to take charge of their health and well-being without being completely reliant on others.
Amenities desired in our adaptive center include:
- Partial weight-bearing access everywhere via overhead tracking in equipment, hallways, and restrooms
- Full automation of environmental controls, such as switch activation to control equipment and surroundings
- Specialized adaptive equipment to maximize the exercise potential of impaired limbs
- A virtual reality room with engaging activities adapted for all disabilities to encourage active movement
- A research platform to record usage and store data for future evidence generation
- Physiological monitoring equipment for vital signs
- Much more
Diagnoses served include:
- Cerebral Palsy
- Spina Bifida
- Spinal Cord Injury
- Traumatic Brain Injury
- Stroke
- Autism
- And many more
All ages are served, from pediatric to adult and geriatric populations.
Exercise statistics show that:
- Regular movement reduces mortality and the risk of recurrent breast cancer by 50%
- It lowers the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease by 40%
- It decreases the risk of heart disease and high blood pressure by 40%
- It reduces the risk of stroke by 27%
- It decreases the likelihood of developing Type II diabetes by 58%
- It alleviates depression
- It leads to higher academic performance in both children and adults.
Enabling movement is critical. Exercise serves as a powerful medicine against many conditions we encounter in life, including aging, depression, pain, and declines in strength and range of motion. With regular exercise, we reduce our risk of developing diseases and minimize complications associated with existing conditions.
The Enabling Movement Foundation is dedicated to helping the disabled move and improve their quality of life through adaptive technology.
Whether you support our mission through monetary donations, volunteering your time, or spreading the word about adaptive cycling and adaptive equipment for individuals with disabilities, thank you. We couldn't achieve our goals, including promoting movement for those with special needs, without the help of supporters like you.