Resources for Wheelchair Exercisers

Written by Jon Gestl


Ask most people ofrepparttar challenges they face following through with an exercise program and you're likely to hearrepparttar 115261 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 havingrepparttar 115262 unique challenge of not being able to, literally, "get up and go". This isrepparttar 115263 unique challenge ofrepparttar 115264 more than 56 million disabled individuals inrepparttar 115265 U.S. alone, many who are wheelchair users.

For many involved inrepparttar 115266 mainstream fitness industry,repparttar 115267 term "wheelchair exerciser" may conjure up images of someone in a physical therapy setting inrepparttar 115268 process of rehabilitation from injury or disability. But considerrepparttar 115269 wheelchair user who wants to participate in regular exercise for weight loss or muscle gain. Or those withrepparttar 115270 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 increaserepparttar 115271 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 haverepparttar 115272 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 ofrepparttar 115273 legs to raiserepparttar 115274 heart rate.

Adaptive Exercise Machines

Fortunately, there is a large number of adaptable exercise machines available torepparttar 115275 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, includingrepparttar 115276 hand cycle and tabletop bike.

Access To Recreation http://www.endorphin.net/ Exercise equipment and recreational products forrepparttar 115277 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 recognizingrepparttar 115278 need for fitness professionals to be knowledgeable aboutrepparttar 115279 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 inrepparttar 115280 privacy of their own home rather than travelling torepparttar 115281 gym. For those searching for in-home instruction, resources such as exercise videos, TV programs and printed instruction manuals can helprepparttar 115282 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 sincerepparttar 115283 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;repparttar 115284 broadcast schedule is listed onrepparttar 115285 website.

Paul Gaudino's Family Fitness Show http://www.exerciseman.com/ Cable TV exercise show that features exercises forrepparttar 115286 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 quenchrepparttar 115287 burning desire of sport and competition...

Benefits of Reflexology

Written by Kelly-Sue Chobotiuk


Stress Relief-counteractsrepparttar effects of stress and helpsrepparttar 115260 body relax ·Works onrepparttar 115261 nervous system-thus effectingrepparttar 115262 muscles ·Unblocksrepparttar 115263 energy inrepparttar 115264 nerves- there are 7,000 nerves inrepparttar 115265 feet that effect your entire body ·Improves circulation-it is essential for blood to circulate and reach every cell;repparttar 115266 blood carries nutrients and oxygen torepparttar 115267 tissues. When we become stressed, breathing becomes shallow and circulation is sluggish. Reflexology encourages a steady blood flow to and fromrepparttar 115268 heart. ·Detoxify and Cleanse-eliminates toxins

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