There Are Important Physical And Mental Benefits To Wheelchair Exercises

By Karen Sullivan


People with limited mobility face all kinds of challenges. This is true even of those who are temporarily incapacitated. Without the ability to move freely, muscles begin to lose strength and will atrophy fairly quickly. This eventually results in the loss of independence. Muscles can be protected however, if individuals commit themselves to a serious regimen of wheelchair exercises. Even the severely afflicted can see their muscles become strong and toned over time.

It is common for chair bound individuals to suffer from depression. This can make sticking to an exercise regime even harder. Doctors advise their patients to set achievable goals for themselves and develop plans to succeed. Enlisting the help of friends and family who are willing to hold the disabled person accountable can be effective. Working out at the same time each week helps develop the habit of exercising.

Some people find it helpful to hang a printed reminder of the benefits their exercise routine is giving them in a conspicuous place. These benefits include improvements in spinal stability, posture, and circulation. Exercise burns calories and helps keep the affected person's weight in check. It increases much needed flexibility and makes you look fit and healthy. The endorphins exercising generates help with depression and stress.

It is important for everyone to spend a few minutes warming up before beginning an exercise routine. Chair bound individuals can increase upper body strength by doing push ups. After securing the brakes on the chair, you should try to push yourself up from the chair using the armrests. To strengthen arm and back muscles, some therapists suggest doing a series of overhead stretches using dumbbells or free weights.

Arm and leg extensions can be accomplished with the use of resistance bands. These can be tied to a door handle or some other stable object to stabilize them. Resistance bands are good choices for people at all strength levels. Many purchase and use bands of varying strengths depending on the type of exercising they are doing.

If you thought the idea of team sports was an impossibility, you are mistaken. There are a wide variety of options available for those in motorized chairs. You can choose from football, basketball, soccer, table tennis, golf, skiing, just to name a few. Not only will you exercise your heart and lungs, you will burn calories and increase energy levels.

All people, not matter what their physical condition, can be vulnerable to injury if they aren't careful when exercising. Chair bound individuals, who depend on their upper bodies to maneuver and get them in and out of their chairs, often complain of shoulder pain. They also tend to suffer from carpal tunnel syndrome because of their constant use of hand and wrist joints.

For those with restricted movement, maintaining as much independence as possible is crucial. Although it may be hard to avoid falling into depression, it is important to remain strong both physically and mentally. It helps to have a vigorous and aggressive exercise routine with friends and family who support your efforts in every way.




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment