Cycling with a muscle disease

According to the Dutch foundation ‘Prinses Beatrix Spierfonds’ there are around 600 different muscle diseases. This includes SMA, ALS, Duchenne's disease and Pompe disease. With a muscle disease, muscles getting weak or sometimes fall out completely. The weakening or the failure of the muscles makes it increasingly difficult to move. To keep your mobility as long as possible, there are mobility aids that can be used, including special needs bicycles. In this article you can read the possibilities to continue and enjoy cycling as long as possible despite a muscle disease.

Cycling with a muscle disease

What is a muscle disease?

The human body has around 600 muscles that control everything in your body. Think of talking, walking, laughing, but also visiting the toilet and scratching if you are itchy. All everyday matters.
However, due to a muscular disease, these everyday matters can become a challenge and the disease therefore has a major impact on the life of the person and his or her loved ones. There are more than 200,000 people with muscular disease in the Netherlands.

Sometimes with a muscle disease it is the muscle itself that is sick, but the disease can also be in the nerves or spinal cord. Fortunately, there’s still a lot of scientific research into muscle diseases because the cause of many muscle diseases has not yet been discovered. By being able to find out the cause of a disease, people can start working on a solution. Therefore, various foundations and funds make a lot of effort to raise money for scientific research.

Easy Go mobility scooter bike by Van Raam
With the Easy Go you can cycle or use the mobility scooter setting

Remain your mobility with a muscle disease

Most muscle diseases are progressive and can quickly decrease the mobility of people. In order to remain your mobility for as long as possible and to be able to continue to enjoy beautiful bike rides, Van Raam has a wide range of special needs bicycles that could possibly play a role in this.
 
If you have a muscular disease, but the strength in your muscles is decreasing, a special needs tricycle with pedal support can be a solution. Thanks to the pedal support you do not have to use all your muscle strength, the three wheels also ensure that you remain stable and do not have to bear the weight of the bicycle with one leg. With the Easy Go mobility scooter bike it is even possible to cycle parts of the route with the mobility scooter setting.
 
View the assortment of the Van Raam tricycles or at our other special needs bikes to look at the various options that these bikes have to offer.

Easy Rider with shoulder control by Van Raam
Chelsea on the Easy Rider with shoulder control

Cycling without using your arms and hands

As a manufacturer of custom bikes, Van Raam has many different types of special needs bikes in its assortment These bikes can be expanded with various options and accessories. When adding these options is not enough, a Van Raam "special" can also be made. In the past Van Raam has made several specials for people with muscular diseases.
 
For example, Chelsea Zijlstra uses a special Easy Rider tricycle with shoulder control since 2017. Chelsea has the muscle disease PMA (Progressive Muscular Atrophy) in which her muscles function insufficiently or not at all. Thanks to the tricycle with shoulder control, she can continue to cycle without using her arms and hands, because she can now steer with her back and shoulders.

Wheelchair transport bike VeloPlus by Van Raam
Toon and Joyce together with the VeloPlus

Enjoy cycling when you can no longer cycle independently

When you can no longer cycle independently due to a muscle disease and you are bound to a wheelchair, it is still possible to enjoy beautiful bike rides.

With the OPair wheelchair bicycle and the VeloPlus wheelchair transport bicycle, it is possible to go out (as a wheelchair bound person) together with a bicycle driver. The person in the wheelchair can be rolled on the platform of the VeloPlus, so he can stay in his own wheelchair. The wheelchair OPair is especially suitable for people who can easily make the transfer from a wheelchair to a normal seat.
 
For example, Toon (diagnosed with ALS) and Joyce successfully made a test ride on the VeloPlus wheelchair bike in 2019 and they were so excited afterwards that they also ordered the bicycle. Despite his muscular disease, Toon can hopefully enjoy beautiful bike rides for a long time with the VeloPlus wheelchair bicycle.

Read more about our wheelchair bikes
Van Raam Rickshaw bike Chat
De Chat Rickshaw

Enjoy a bike ride together

From May 2019, Van Raam has added a bicycle to its range. With the Chat rickshaw bicycle it is possible to transport people who can no longer independently participate in traffic, for example due to muscular disease, by bicycle. The great thing about this bike is that two people can sit on a specially designed bench and (re) discover the area and nature together with their attendant. On the product page of the Chat you can read more about the possibilities of this rickshaw bike.

Chat rickshaw bike
Get a advice about the possibilities of a special needs bike
Get a advice about the possibilities of a special needs bike

Getting personal and informal advice

The purchase of a special needs bike can be a big thing for some people. To get personal advice and to get answers to all your questions about special needs bikes, it is possible to schedule a consultation without obligation in our showroom in Varsseveld. During this consultation you can answer all your questions about special needs bikes and it is possible to try different bikes. Is it difficult to come to Varsseveld? On the dealer page on our website and find a Van Raam dealer in your area!

Planning a test ride online
Back to overview
Accept Our website uses cookies because this is necessary for our service. If you give permission for this, please click on 'accept’. To find out more about the cookies, see our Cookie Statement.