How to make car travel more comfortable for
wheelchair users

Road Trip!

by Bethany Broadwell

Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu is noted as saying, “A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step.”

For those of us with neuromuscular
disease, we know that step may not
literally be a physical movement, but
rather a plan of action.
This past year I had the good
fortune of going on a road trip with
my parents for an extended stay in
Florida. Before we left our Traverse
City, Mich., home, we realized we

had several factors to consider in order for our travels to be smooth and successful.

Since I have type 2 spinal muscular atrophy, our primary questions were:

How are we going to carry
my equipment, including
my wheelchair, bathroom
commode and bedding, in
addition to the standard
necessities for a more-
than-two-month trip?
How many miles
could I travel in a day
without becoming unbearably uncom-
fortable?

What could I do on the trip to occupy my mind and help make the time pass quickly?

These concerns, it turns out, are ones that many travelers with muscle disease consider. I learned that through practice and experience, it’s possible to determine the best approach to meet individualized needs.

Greetin

•••••••

from the Road

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In the days preceding our journey, we decided we would use our GMC Envoy to tow a Haulmark trailer carrying our load. I am petite enough to fit in an infant seat padded with towels, pillows and an egg crate cushion.

We purchased a Kurgo Auto Tray Table ( www.kurgo.com/products/att. html) that hooked around the front passenger seat and provided me with a table in the backseat. It worked well because I had just enough ability to move my arms and operate a mini notebook computer while I was riding.

As we progressed on our trip, I gradually determined that 400 miles, with periodic breaks, was a feasible goal for me to cover per day.

Mark Casto, a physical therapist for the Sentara Leigh Therapy Center in Norfolk, Va., recommends people with MD start with short trips, determine their tolerance and add miles as they can tolerate. He suggests, “A two-hour trip with one break would be a good starting point.”

Pressure relief and prevention of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) are the main concerns with prolonged sitting bouts, Casto warns.

Movement every 15 minutes can help prevent these kinds of issues. Wheelchairs with the tilt feature and adjustable footplates can be useful. Casto says T.E.D. hose, available with a doctor’s prescription, can prevent DVTs