The University of Utah Health is advocating for patients with complex disabilities through its TRAILS initiative. Short for Technology, Recreation, Access, Independence, Lifestyle, Sports, TRAILS is a unique adaptive sports program that allows patients the opportunity to participate year-round in numerous activities such as skiing (alpine and Nordic), cycling (road and mountain), recoil shooting, tennis and watersports including sailing, kayaking, sit-down and stand-up paddle boarding and swimming. In partnership with the School of Engineering at the university, TRAILS has been an innovator in the adaptive sports landscape developing novel equipment to allow patients to participate in various activities regardless of their level of disability. Through the mantra of “control everything with anything,” the collaboration has sparked the development of equipment such as the TetraSki and TetraCraft, which allow complete autonomous control of adaptive alpine skis and sailing equipment using sip-and-puff, head array and joystick technology. In addition to the many adaptive offerings, TRAILS also facilitates support groups, educational events and wellness initiatives for its participants.
These TRAILS participants who use the TetraSki and TetraCraft summed up their experience best:
- “The simultaneous feelings of self-reliance and sheer delight ... are priceless.”
- “The first time I was in the TetraSki we went all the way to the top of Alta (Ski Area). It’s awesome to be up on the ski lift again and, in the country, smelling the fresh air and hitting the fresh powder.”
- “I loved the feeling of powder while on my skis growing up. It’s that bouncing feeling and in the TetraSki it was exactly the same. It was so cool to create that perfect little ’S’.”
- “The TetraSki is the one thing I have been able to feel that it takes real skill to do, and I can do it well even with my amount of physical disability. I was able to take control and that felt great.”
Follow TRAILS on Instagram @trails_adaptive to see their latest adventures! Thank you to Dr. Casey Fenger, MD for his contribution to this article.