Bicycle pedal modifications for use in a physical therapy department.

Abstract

Riding a bicycle ergometer is often included as part of the physical therapy rehabilitation program for patients with weakness in the lower extremities or for patients who need to improve their cardiovascular fitness. Some patients are unable to hold their feet on the bicycle pedals, however, because of their particular medical problems such as stroke, head trauma, or extreme weakness. In some cases, toe clips have been used successfully to solve this problem, but for many patients even these are not satisfactory. This is particularly true if the patient cannot be relied upon to keep his feet in the clips, because he could be injured if his feet slipped off the pedals. One way to remedy this problem is to attach a cast boot to a block of wood that has been cut to accommodate the bicycle pedal.…