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Wheel Chair Exercise: NOT a Contradiction in Terms
By A. M. Kelly

Whatever the reason for your confinement to a wheel chair – temporary or permanent – does not mean that you have to live a life of immobility and boredom. In fact, your physician will most likely recommend that in order for your body not to atrophy, you should get as much exercise as your body will tolerate. Thus, wheel chair exercise is a vital and popular way to enjoy your life to the fullest!

A great many wheel chair bound people think of their illness or injury as a characteristic rather than a handicap. Being in a wheel chair is just a circumstance, nothing more, much like the color or their eyes or that annoying bald spot. Thus, they view wheel chair exercise is a way of life, not a "treatment."

How Can I Get Involved in Wheel Chair Exercise?

The possibilities for wheel chair exercise for men, women and children are limited only by your imagination, desire and the over-all condition of your body. Among men, wheel chair exercise can be a tough workout! Basketball leagues, handball leagues, rowing competitions, bowling leagues, even baseball, volleyball and ice hockey leagues are common. Yes, the rules are not quite the same in these sports as they are for the able-bodied. However, with a few modifications to the rules, wheel chair exercise of this type encourages body health as well as essential emotional self-esteem. Do you find it difficult to toss a volleyball plunging back over the net? Try it from a wheel chair, and learn what "difficult" really is!

For women and children, wheel chair exercise is just as important, fun and confidence building. Kids seem to really enjoy using manual chairs for races and obstacle courses in specially designed gym facilities. For kids, trying is more important than winning. The courage to give their personal best makes a lasting impression on wheel chair bound kids. Women enjoy many of the same wheel chair exercises as men, but since they lack the upper body strength of men, their sports are just a little less strenuous. A perfect exercise for women and children is badminton; it is not as strenuous as volleyball but still gives a tremendous upper-body workout.

Swimming, for all genders and ages, is a highly recommended wheel chair exercise. Many chairs are lightweight and submersible in specially constructed pools, allowing the swimmers to propel themselves with their arms and upper body. Physicians and physical therapists prefer swimming because of the body's natural buoyancy in water, thus making self-propulsion easier. With this type of exercise, all swimmers should wear protective floatation devices and a lifeguard must be present who has experience with disabled swimmers.

Finally, bodybuilding is a great type of wheel chair exercise. Weight lifting, curls, exercises for abdominal muscles are not only fun, but also they provide an excellent cardiovascular workout. For those who prefer a home workout, there are a great many wheel chair exercise videos available on the Internet and at fitness centers that offer services to physically challenged patrons. In fact, many fitness centers today employ physical therapists who work exclusively with anyone with a disability. More than ever, fitness for everyone is available.

Author Details:
A. M. Kelly writes for various web sites including The A-Z of Wheelchairs and other information portals such as information junkie and the A-Z of.com

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