by Cathy Cuff-Coffman, Content Writer
Matt Buyten never shies away from thrill seeking.
His “thrill of choice” is professional motocross. He’s more than adept at straddling a souped-up, supercharged motorcycle, and racing other like-minded athletes over dirt-road trails with chicanes, hills and valleys.
And he was successful.
But then Buyten crashed and suffered paralysis.
Buyten, 46, shared his 24-year career in freestyle motocross with us. “I was performing backflips and tricks at X Games events,” recounts Buyten.
He was paralyzed in a racing accident on June 23rd, 2024, when he crashed during the Loretta Lynn Motocross National competition. “My T6 (thoracic) vertebrae broke,” he shared, “and I was instantly paralyzed.”
During the third race, Buyten experienced a high-speed crash after a part failure, resulting in him landing on his head and becoming paralyzed. He was taken to surgery the following day after being transported from the mountainous race site.
“I was competing in the 40-plus (age) class,” he says, “And I had already qualified for the second round in Denver, CO.”
He was taken to surgery the following day after being transported from the mountainous race site.
When Buyten crashed, he shattered six ribs and suffered a major spinal cord injury, losing his T6 vertebrae and requiring fusion from T3 to T9.
“My T6 (thoracic) vertebrae broke,” he shared, “and I was instantly paralyzed.”
“I was experiencing constant pain and vertigo during my month-long hospital stay,” he relates.
Then, Buyten was admitted to the Craig Rehab Facility in, Englewood, CO, a world-renowned, specialized neurorehabilitation and research center.
He explained that a physical therapist helped alleviate his vertigo through the Epley Maneuver. “I could finally properly sit up.”
“I’m managing constant pain with injections and a spinal stimulator,” he explains.
As with any SCI injury, Buyten has ongoing challenges with recovery from his motocross bike accident. “It was two years ago,” he recalls, “but I struggle with losing independence and having to ask for help after being able to handle most tasks independently.”
Losing mobility significantly impacts one's sense of independence and is a difficult adjustment.
However, Buyten quickly regained his independence, by going full throttle into adaptive activities.
“I’m adjusting to life after a spinal cord injury at age 46,” he says.
“I’m working with adaptive training facilities, learning to weld, and participating in outdoor adventures through foundations like the High Fives Foundation and Return to Dirt. He’s also involved with the Adaptive Training Foundation in Carrollton, TX.
Buyten explains he connected with the High Five Foundation through his network of extreme sports and has participated in several activities with them, including side-by-side driving, mountain climbing, paragliding, deep-sea fishing and surfing.
But above all, he wants to be a good, and present father for his preschool-aged son, Jett.
“I want to ensure Jett has a good childhood by being a present father,” he says, “while teaching him how to make good life choices.”
