Everyone starts off with great intentions, especially when it comes to losing weight. If you use a wheelchair, however, working out is a little different for you. You may not know where to start or feel comfortable going at it on your own.
Don’t worry. Wheel:Life has listed some fantastic sources below to help you shed that unwanted weight!
* It should be noted that before beginning any wheelchair exercise workout program, it is imperative to check with a doctor or health care provider. Wheel:Life articles are for informational use only and should not be construed as medical advice.
Wheelchair Aerobics
Wheelchair Workout, from the Chair Aerobics For Everyone series is a fun, easy, motivational workout for all ages. This video is designed for people in wheel chairs that would like to incorporate exercise into their daily routine.
You will learn to combine basic stretching with an upper body toning work out to increase strength, flexibility, and muscle-tone. Doing these exercises regularly will help increase mobility and self-esteem while helping to control weight and aiding in digestion.
See the video here and learn more at www.chairaerobics.com:
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gxqJOGcKoy4&w=420&h=315]
Let’s take a walk.
Project Walk is an amazing rehabilitation program that is offered at Project Walk facilities nationwide. At Project Walk, you’ll receive a strength-building workout along with individualized physical therapy designed to help you regain as much mobility as possible.
Workouts at Project Walk employ the Darzinski Method -- a theory based upon more than a decade of experience working with SCI as well as current scientific research. Research on activity and how it relates to SCI has progressed rapidly in the last few years. After SCI, the body begins to breakdown physiologically. This is partially caused by reducing the effect of gravity on the body and through exercise, Project Walk is attempting to reverse this breakdown.
The effects of exercise on someone with a spinal cord injury are similar to that of able-bodied individuals.1 Passive exercise alone has been shown to decrease physiological breakdown after SCI, but we believe weight bearing exercise may have an even greater effect.2. This type of exercise is what the human body was designed to do; standing, walking, lifting, etc.
Learn more about the Project Walk program near you at: www.projectwalk.org
Introducing Kefty
The KEFTY is the number one searched wheelchair and rehabilitation exerciser. You can do hundreds of motions with just one Kefty, and because of its versatility and low impact, it is perfect for all fitness levels. The Kefty is specifically designed to hook onto the back of your wheelchair or under your foot rest. It's fun, it's easy, it's Kefty.
Here’s a quick video that demonstrates Kefty in use.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9xBqTaftI1Y&w=560&h=315]
Is weight-lifting your thing?
Here’s a fantastic blog site that discusses reps, strength training and warm up routines before you start pushing iron.
Workouts don’t have to end when you begin using a wheelchair. It’s all about doing them a little differently. Let us know how things are going with your workouts this week!