Exercise is important for everyone. If you have a physical disability, exercise is all the more important to help keep your body and mind in shape.
The Benefits of Exercise
The start of a new year is a perfect time to begin an exercise routine. Exercise is for everyone, including those with physical disabilities and limitations. Exercise can help you maintain your weight, avoid health problems such as heart and lung disease, relieve stress, feel better and look better.
Exercises & Equipment
If you are in a wheelchair, resistance exercises that will help increase your upper body strength should be your main focus. There are a variety of exercise videos that are targeted to people with disabilities available today. The best thing about these videos is that they allow you to work out in the privacy of your own home at your convenience.
If you prefer doing your complete workout at home, there is a variety of fitness equipment for people with disabilities available. This equipment includes exercise bikes that can be used while you are seated in your chair, arm bikes, weight machines, bikes that you powered yourself and FES bikes that are designed to mechanically stimulate and exercise paralyzed muscles.
Exercise, especially aerobic exercise, is a great way to boost your energy. Aerobic exercise lets you maintain an increased heart rate by performing a series of moderate exercises for an extended period of time (15-20 minutes). Aerobic exercise can be as complex as a whole routine or as simple as swinging your arms at your sides – anything that gets your heart rate up and keeps it there for at least 20 minutes.
Sports
If you’re already in shape and are looking for a fun way to maintain your health and level of activity, why not try organized sports. Wheelchair sports include basketball, rugby, tennis, archery, fencing and many more.
The National Center on Physical Activity and Disability, or NCPAD, can help you find a sports program or a fitness program in your area.
Whatever your level of injury or disability, there is an exercise and fitness program out there for you. Find one that suits your needs and get started! You’ll be surprised at how much better you’ll look and feel.
