Ask most people of the challenges they face following through with an exercise program and you’re likely to hear the common complaints: Lack of motivation, being too tired, not having enough time, too busy. Or as someone recently told me, “My get up and go has gotten up and gone”.
But imagine having the unique challenge of not being able to, literally, “get up and go”. This is the unique challenge of the more than 56 million disabled individuals in the U.S. alone, many who are wheelchair users.
For many involved in the mainstream fitness industry, the term “wheelchair exerciser” may conjure up images of someone in a physical therapy setting in the process of rehabilitation from injury or disability. But consider the wheelchair user who wants to participate in regular exercise for weight loss or muscle gain. Or those with the burning desire to compete in a favorite sport. What services meet their unique challenges?
Fortunately, there are many options that those in wheelchairs have in pursuing fitness goals:
Access to facilities
The Americans with Disabilities Act signed in 1990 helped increase the availability of wheelchair-accessible facilities, including health clubs. As more and more private health clubs follow suit, individuals who use wheelchairs will have increasing options.
However, access alone does not ensure that wheelchair exercisers will have the appropriate equipment to meet their strength training and cardiovascular needs. It’s easy enough to modify certain upper-body exercises with dumbbells and resistance bands for a seated exercise, but most machines simply will not accommodate a wheelchair. Effective aerobic training can be even harder to accomplish, since most cardiovascular machines require use of the legs to raise the heart rate.
Adaptive Exercise Machines
Fortunately, there is a large number of adaptable exercise machines available to the exerciser and to health clubs that choose to offer adaptive exercise options:
The Endorphin Corporation
http://www.endorphin.net/
Manufacturer of wheelchair accessible fitness machines for both cardiovascular and strength conditioning, including the hand cycle and tabletop bike.
Access To Recreation
http://www.endorphin.net/
Exercise equipment and recreational products for the wheelchair-bound such as all terrain wheelchairs, pool lifts and more.
Spinlife
http://www.spinlife.com/
Sells wheelchairs of all types. Contains resource section.
Adaptive Fitness Personal Trainers
Finally recognizing the need for fitness professionals to be knowledgeable about the needs of wheelchair exercisers, a number of personal trainer organizations offer specialized certifications and/or programs in Adaptive Fitness. This is good news for those who desire professional instruction by a trainer who is knowledgeable of special needs. The following are a few organizations that offer either certification program in Adaptive Fitness or specialized education:
International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA)/Specialist in Adaptive Fitness
http://www.issaonline.com/courses/saf.cfm
American Association for Active Lifestyles & Fitness
http://www.aahperd.org/aaalf emplate.cfm?template=adaptedaquatics.html
Exercise videos, TV Programs and Manuals
Some may feel more comfortable working out in the privacy of their own home rather than travelling to the gym. For those searching for in-home instruction, resources such as exercise videos, TV programs and printed instruction manuals can help the wheelchair user increase activity levels, lose fat and gain muscle mass:
Armchair Fitness
http://www.armchairfitness.com/
Classic armchair exercises developed by fitness expert Betty Switkes. Includes videotapes for aerobic, strength, yoga, and “gentle” formats.
Maria Serrao’s Workout Tapes
http://www.dropbears.com/amazon emplate_movies ype_browse/mode_290298
Actress and model Maria Serrao, in a wheelchair since the age of 5, stars in a series of exercise videotapes including: Everyone Can Exercise-Cardio Challenge, Toning & Strengthening, Real Life Fitness-Body Sculpting, Real Life Fitness- Fat Burning.
Sit and Be Fit with Mary Ann Wilson
http://www.sitandbefit.com/
Seated exercise videos for older adults and/or physically limited individuals. Sit and Be Fit is also a cable TV series; the broadcast schedule is listed on the website.
Paul Gaudino’s Family Fitness Show
http://www.exerciseman.com/
Cable TV exercise show that features exercises for the disabled, wheelchair bound, seniors, people with back pain, and beginners. Exercise videotapes are available through his website.
Creative Chair Exercises
http://www.tudefitness.com/wheelchairexercisead.htm
A Seated Exercise manual by Bob Blick, including both aerobic and strength formats.
The Thrill of Victory…
Wheelchair Sports and Competition
Numerous and exciting options exist for individuals in wheelchairs who desire to quench the burning desire of sport and competition…
International Paralympic Committee
http://www.paralympic.org/
The Paralympic Games are the Olympic equivalent competitions for individuals with disabilities and are recognized by the International Olympic Committee. The IPC organizes the Paralympic Games along with other multi-disability competitions, from regional to world championships, with the highest achieving athletes in each sport qualifying for the Paralympics. IPC’s vision: “To enable paralympic athletes to achieve sporting excellence and inspire and excite the world.” Inspire, indeed! The next time you’d rather skip a workout, surf over to this site and be inspired by these athletes. A truly amazing organization.
Disabled Sports USA
http://www.dsusa.org/
A non-profit organization established in 1967 by disabled Vietnam veterans, DS/USA offers nationwide sports rehabilitation programs to anyone with a permanent disability. Promotes successful rehabilitation and ongoing quality of life through sports and competition. Conducts training camps to prepare and select athletes for the Summer and Winter Paralympic Games. DS/USA has a nationwide network of community-based chapters, which is listed on the website.
Canadian Wheelchair Sports Association
http://www.cwsa.ca/home.html
The CWSA is non-for-profit organization whose mission is to promote excellence and develop opportunities for Canadians in wheelchair sport.
Wheelchair Sports, USA
http://www.wsusa.org/wsusa/
Provides athletic experiences for disabled athletes that parallel those of mainstream athletes. The website states the organization is “directed and developed by wheelchair athletes and wheelchair sports enthusiasts alike, individuals with a first-hand understanding to the values of participation.” Wheelchair Sports USA is recognized by the U.S. Olympic Committee, and also has offerings to junior athletes.
The Wheelchair Bodybuilding Page
http://www.wsusa.org/wsusa/
Contest schedule for Wheelchair Bodybuilding Contests, links to bodybuilding federations that promote wheelchair bodybuilding contests.
International Wheelchair Basketball Federation
http://www.iwbf.org/
National Wheelchair Basketball Federation
http://www.nwba.org/index.php
Extreme Sports
Traditional sports are fine, but what if tastes crave more extreme sporting activities? Not to worry. Check out the following sites for information about extreme wheelchair sports and get ready to be amazed…
extrememike.com
http://www.extrememike.com/
Extreme enthusiast and motivational speaker Michael McKeller overcame spinal muscular atrophy to conquer extreme sports such as skydiving, scuba diving, boating, and flying. Offers extreme sports video series featuring McKeller in the pursuit of accomplishing one extreme sport at a time. His mission? “To invite everyone to take a look at how he does it and try it for themselves.”
Mobility Engineering Inc.
http://www.mobilityeng.com/
Designer and manufacturer of adaptive sports equipment that opens up new adventures for disabled persons. Includes 100% arm-powered vehicles called the “Hand Bike” and the “Snow Pod.” Website features past extreme trip details.
General and Recreational/Wheelchair Sport Websites
Wheelchairnet.org
http://www.wheelchairnet.org/WCN_Living/health.html
A “wheelchair virtual community” for people with a common interest in wheelchair technology and its application. An excellent resource for the wheelchair user. Site includes databases, slide lectures, article reprints, and discussion area.
Accessible Fitness
http://www.accessibilitytraining.com/
Take a look at this fitness center in Santa Clara, CA. Established to help the physically-challenged to attain both the physical and mental benefits of exercise, it offers a wheelchair accessible gym, in-home exercise programs, adaptive fitness personal trainers, workshops and more.
The Muscular Dystrophy Organization
http://www.mdausa.org/
Website carries loads of information, resources, and motivational stories.
Disabled Go Info
http://www.mdausa.org/
Offers detailed access information for disabled people across the UK.
Magazines
Sports n Spokes Magazine
http://www.pvamagazines.com/sns/
Magazine with international circulation covering the latest in competitive wheelchair sports and recreational opportunities.
Paralinks
http://www.paralinks.net/
The magazine for people with spinal cord injury. A web site dedicated exclusively for the wheelchair culture of the world.
It’s clear that being in a wheelchair doesn’t mean leading a sedentary lifestyle. For those individuals in wheelchairs who wish to exercise, remain active, or compete in sports, numerous resources exist. For those not in wheelchairs, take a look at any of the above links. You’ll soon forget about using any of the old, worn-out excuses not to get off the couch and get active.
