Created: 4/16/2008 6:47:20 PM 
Greensboro, NC -- A program at UNC Greensboro is giving students hands-on and bike-on experience, and seniors too.
Twice a week, students in the Health and Human Performance program visit residents at the WhiteStone: A Masonic and Eastern Star Community.
They team up with the home's activity department to implement a Duet biking program.
Students and activity leaders ride a bicycle with the resident's wheelchair attached to the front of it.
The program treats depression and isolation, by getting seniors outside and active.
The oldest resident at the home, who's 103-years-old, was one of the first to ride.
This program uses a specialized piece of therapy equipment called the Duet wheelchair bike to deliver evidence based interventions in the nursing home setting.
The Duet(tm) wheelchair bike is an innovative intervention as it can be used with the majority of nursing home residents.
This psychosocial treatment links two familiar items -- a wheelchair and a bike, using the Duet(tm) wheelchair bicycle.
The bike consists of a rugged wheelchair which attaches to a half a bicycle, and which is unusable on its own.
The specially designed chair, orthopedically shaped from fiberglass, reinforced plastic, has padding and adjustable foot and headrest.
When fixed to the cycle the chair tilts back, lifting the small front guide wheels off the floor. This gives a relaxed, stable seating position and makes conversation between resident and rider easier.
There are twin drum brakes on the chair's wheel, and a back-pedal brake on the cycle wheel. Standard on the bike is a three-speed hub gear allowing easier pedaling up inclines.
The bike comes with many additional safety features including a chest harness seat belt and wheel-spoke covers.
Organizers say the activity gives seniors a chance to socialize and bring back familiar childhood memories.
Other nursing homes that want to participate in the Duet biking program can call 334-5327.
WFMY News 2
