Wheelchair Exercises for Fun and FItness

July 20, 2011 By Leave a Comment
A blue folding lightweight wheelchair.

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Many people who use a wheelchair may experience physical issues such as stress in the neck and shoulders. Wheelchair exercises can help reduce the stress and pain, as well as adding strength and muscle tone to the individual. Other positive aspects of wheelchair exercises include flexibility and weigh control — and they can help elevate the mood. Here are a few wheelchair exercises.

Resistance training will build strength through using equipment such as stretch bands. These types of exercises target specific areas of the body. These bands can be used for a variety of exercises including trunk and shoulder rotations and leg extensions.

Yoga practice is not only beneficial to the physical body, but to the mental one as well. You can often find yoga classes designed especially for people in wheelchairs. Yoga can improve flexibility and mental health.

Strength training uses dumbbells and other types of weight to improve an individual’s strength level. Many people who started their exercise programs using resistance training, find that the next step is to move to strength training.

Many gyms today are adding programs that recognize the needs of people in wheelchairs or who have other disabilities. Joining a gym will usually give individuals the motivation to continue a regular workout regime. Make sure to find a gym that provides machines are flexible to the needs of the user. For instance, look for weight machines where the seats swing out and have straps or other devices to help keep legs and feet in place.

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Exercising with a Wheelchair Disability

September 22, 2010 By Leave a Comment
Being physically active is an important part of anyone’s life, and those who use a wheelchair or have a disability are no exception. Many people who must use a wheelchair still have the same strength in their core and arms are those who are not wheelchair-bound. Getting regular exercise can allow you more mobility and independence, increase mood and self-esteem, as well as encourage better digestion and weight control. Also, by exercising your whole upper body, you can balance out the strain and strength in your body, reducing the stress, tension, and pain that many people with a wheelchair experience.

Using elastic exercise bands can a good way to increase strength and flexibility in the arms and shoulders. Simply attach the band to a door handle or railing. You can get a list of shoulder, arm, and even wrist strengthening exercises from a weight trainer or physical therapist, as you graduate from low-resistance bands to high-resistance bands.

More strenuous training can be done with weights or exercise machines. This is a good type of exercise to graduate to when using exercise bands become too easy to use. To make strength training a regular part of your life, it may be beneficial to find a gym that pays specific attention to the needs of those who have disabilities. They may have less crowded space to get around in, as well as extra equipment.

As with any exercise program, it is important to talk with your doctor and meet with a professional trainer before starting. Your doctor can help direct in the target areas that you can strengthen, as well as direct away from exercises or programs that will worsen your condition or prove harmful. A professional trainer can show you the proper way to perform exercises, as well as create a schedule and realistic goals. Regardless what you decide to do, making physical activity a priority is a good and necessary part of your life.

Source: thewheelchairsite.com

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Using Exercise to Reduce Pain from a Disability

September 20, 2010 By Leave a Comment
Keeping yourself active is a good way to reduce the pain you suffer from a disability, or as a way to cope with chronic pain. . Much of activity—physical or otherwise—is suggested as a form of pain reduction through distraction and mood lifting. Recent studies focusing on the powers of distraction as a pain reducer found that those who listened to nature sounds and focused on a picturesque scene experienced less pain than those who did not. While this type of therapy, called distraction therapy, is not a replacement for medication, it can help the patient experience less pain and a good deal more comfort and happiness.

Mental activities such as reading, problem solving, and continued education can keep you mentally sharp while decreasing your levels of pain. This is simply because you have something else to focus on instead of the pain. Social activity is also a good way to stimulate and distract your mind while increasing your happiness. Examples of social activity are a book club, joining a church or other religious group, or creating a regular social event in your group of friends. This can be something as simple as a game night or a bowling night, or can be a group project. Consider taking on a cause, such as gathering food for a food pantry, or creating care packages for soldiers or countries in need.

While not appropriate for all physical conditions, constant and difficult exercise has also shown promise for reducing pain caused by a disability or medical condition. Some programs involve exercises under medical supervision, and use exercise machines that isolate and strengthen the problem muscle. Less intensive exercises are done during the week by the patient at home. There has been significant success with this exercise program for strengthening the problem areas, and resulting in a more functional, normal life for the patient. Less intensive, but still useful physical activity is water therapy, modified yoga, and other gentle exercises. Talk to your doctor about what is right for you.

Source: WebMD.com

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