Life for wheelchair users can be improved through fitness programs

Life for wheelchair users can be improved through fitness programs

Long term care professionals should learn to forget their misunderstandings that residents requiring long-term care risk suffering from injuries, are not strong enough to exercise and can’t even exercise at all just because they are confined to wheelchairs

This is because it has been proven through research that even the weakest of residents can gain lots of physical and psychological benefits from a fitness program. Studies conducted on residents who were part of a resistance training program performed thrice a week with rehab equipment for strengthening their thighs and knees experienced increased walking speeds by 12%, an increased ability at climbing stairs by 28% and increased muscle strength by 113%.

People confined to wheelchairs have a greater risk of suffering from reduced mental acuity and depression and may suffer from various complicated health problems like high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes or coronary heart disease.

There is also a chance of wheelchair users developing pressure sores and suffering from osteoarthritis because of the strain on the joints of the musculoskeletal system induced by the weight gained because of a sedentary lifestyle.

There are various benefits related to fitness programs like increased muscular strength and endurance, improved joint flexibility and range of motion, improve respiratory abilities, strengthen bone mass, reduced blood pressure levels and providing efficient relief from the painful symptoms of arthritis.

To top it all, these exercise program designed for those confined to wheelchairs can make them gain better control on their ageing process and develop a better mental overlook to give an overall better quality of life.

Body awareness, muscle strength and endorphins are all generated through exercise which in turn provides relief from stress and improves self-esteem levels. It also improves the chances of your getting a deeper and more restful sleep required for preserving emotional and physical health. No matter what the resident’s age, experience expertise or physical condition may be, there are various techniques which they can use to help them exercise and in the process, reap from its various benefits.

Any exercise can be extended to meet the resident’s needs and limitations. Cardiovascular exercises are a series of seated repetitive movements that raise the patient’s heart beat so that they can burn calories.

Strength training exercise is best for residents who have limited mobility in their legs by focusing on building their upper body strength. For example, by attaching resistance bands to doorknobs, the wheelchair or furniture, they can be used for shoulder rotations, arm and leg-extensions and for pull-downs.

Flexibility is important to prevent injury, reduce any pain and stiffness and enhance the range of motion. Even patients with limited mobility in the legs can benefit from stretches and flexibility exercises and in the process, prevent or delay any further muscle atrophy.

In case of some residents, their medical condition may exclude their performing some wheelchair exercises. Moreover, those who just start off their exercise programs should first discuss their exercise plan with a physician. The physician will be able to provide some suggestions or even prohibit exercises which prove to be too strenuous or may end up aggravating an existing medical condition.

Image by U.S. Army via Flickr