Wheelchairs and exercise

[LittleGreyCat]

Starting a new thread after seeing a couple of posts where people with knee problems said that they couldn't exercise because they were in a wheelchair.

Having seen wheelchair users participate in any number of sports, including the London Marathon, I thought that a wheelchair should allow you to get out and about and do lots of upper body exercise.

In turn, this made me wonder if people were using electric wheelchairs or relying on someone else to push them.

This is just me being curious.

There is probably a whole different thread about seated exercise, including lifting small weights and Yoga.

 

[lucylocket61]

Those doing marathons and sports are mainly those with general good healthy and upper and core body strength. Some us us, like me, have weakness all over. I simply could not self propel a wheelchair with my arms, and an electric wheelchair is a whole different issue. Both in terms of storage space, and cost. I would need someone to get an electric wheelchair out of a vehicle, for example, and put it back again. Its not simple : (

 

[Brunneria]

There are just so many different reasons why people need to use wheelchairs. The exercise capacity for each person must be unique.

I am very fortunate that I don't need one, but if I did, it would not be possible for me to manoeuvre myself around using upper body strength - simply because an old sporting injury from school wrecked my left shoulder. That would have nothing to do with the reason I would be in the chair in the first place.

Having said that, there are many different exercise options possible when seated, and depending on the capacity of the individual, some of them might be appropriate. I have seen bodyblades and resistance bands be very helpful.

 

[Guzzler]

The Paralympics? Sorry, that's like me thinking every able bodied person can be like Sir Mo Farrah or Nicola Adams.

Every condition that leads people into wheelchair use is different. I cannot self propel in a manual w/chair so that is used soley with a chaperone and I cannot abide it because the chaperone is in charge and some people are surprisingly poor at pushing.
I use an electric w/chair which does give me more independence but is limited in range so that I must pay over the odds for adapted taxis (I have yet to see a family sized car that could take my chair even when it is fully dismantled).

I do not have excuses wrt to not exercising, I have reasons. And I will be brutally honest with you, if I was able bodied I still wouldn't take on Nicola Adams!

 

[LittleGreyCat]

The Paralympics? Sorry, that's like me thinking every able bodied person can be like Sir Mo Farrah or Nicola Adams.

Every condition that leads people into wheelchair use is different. I cannot self propel in a manual w/chair so that is used soley with a chaperone and I cannot abide it because the chaperone is in charge and some people are surprisingly poor at pushing.
I use an electric w/chair which does give me more independence but is limited in range so that I must pay over the odds for adapted taxis (I have yet to see a family sized car that could take my chair even when it is fully dismantled).

I do not have excuses wrt to not exercising, I have reasons. And I will be brutally honest with you, if I was able bodied I still wouldn't take on Nicola Adams!

Thanks - I cycle but have no aspirations to enter the TDF.

I was curious about how many people were in the, if you like, half way stage where they could not walk due to knee problems but could still take gentle exercise in a manual wheelchair.

 

[Guzzler]

"Gentle" is subjective. I tried Resistant bands, they hurt me. I looked into Tai Chi and thought I'd give it a go, found the warm up exercises for it (I was surprised at the fact it needed warm ups as it looked so 'gentle'). That 15 minute warm up caused a flare up that lasted 5 days. I'm just glad I did not have to buy any special equipment to try it.

 

[TriciaWs]

If only knee problems then yes, they can do other exercises.
I use a walking stick inside and a mobility scooter outside due to osteoarthritis, non-diabetic neuropathy and fibromylgia. I also have exercise induced asthma.
The last consultant I saw told my GP that I probably have CFS too. I have dizzy spells and frequently lose my balance. Going out for a few hours means I spend most of the next day in bed.
I still get called lazy/fatty/etc. by some people in the street.

I am grateful for finding low carb as this means I have managed to lose part of the weight I've put on over the years, from steroids and lack of exercise/too many carbs. I'm still losing slowly!

 

[LittleGreyCat]

Those doing marathons and sports are mainly those with general good healthy and upper and core body strength. Some us us, like me, have weakness all over. I simply could not self propel a wheelchair with my arms, and an electric wheelchair is a whole different issue. Both in terms of storage space, and cost. I would need someone to get an electric wheelchair out of a vehicle, for example, and put it back again. Its not simple : (

To be clear, there is a lot of distance between professional athletes and the rest of us.

Cyclists ride the TDF, runners run marathons, etc.

However a gentle walk is still good exercise, as is a gently cycle ride, or a jog if your feet and knees are up to it (which mine aren't).

As stated above, I was curious about how many people could exercise in a wheelchair (like taking a gentle walk or cycle ride).
I don't think I have seen anyone post that their exercise regime is, for example, two miles in a manual wheelchair three times a week.
Yes, we do see elite athletes in wheelchairs.
Logically we should also see average people out for a "stroll" in a wheelchair just as we see people out for a short walk or a slow cycle ride.

I am noting that people posting here who have difficulty exercising seem to have whole body problems, not just dodgy feet or knees for example.

All food for thought.

 

[LittleGreyCat]

If only knee problems then yes, they can do other exercises.
I use a walking stick inside and a mobility scooter outside due to osteoarthritis, non-diabetic neuropathy and fibromylgia. I also have exercise induced asthma.
The last consultant I saw told my GP that I probably have CFS too. I have dizzy spells and frequently lose my balance. Going out for a few hours means I spend most of the next day in bed.
I still get called lazy/fatty/etc. by some people in the street.

I am grateful for finding low carb as this means I have managed to lose part of the weight I've put on over the years, from steroids and lack of exercise/too many carbs. I'm still losing slowly!

People who don't know what it is like can be stupidly unkind.
Why would you insult someone in the street?

Enormous sympathy for CFS - our daughter had this in her teens and it was extremely hard for her to get through each day. That was at the time it was still often thought to be all in the mind and called "Yuppie Flu".
Thankfully she is much better now, but school and University took a lot of extra effort.

Good to hear that you are managing to lose that weight.
As others have said, you eat sensibly to lose weight and exercise to get fitter.
You don't exercise to lose weight because it takes so much exercise to burn off a pound of fat that you would have to exercise all day every day. Which does take an enormous amount of time.

 

[Guzzler]

Please understand, I am not having a go at you. Before I had to use a w/chair I never imagined the limitations that having to use one would throw up. Believe me when I say that when I was able to self propel at the beginning I did not go for a stroll for pleasure without a chaperone. It is just too hard for most folk.

 

[Pipp]

Thanks for starting this thread, @LittleGreyCat.

I always cringe when an elite disabled or wheelchair using athlete says something like
“ If I can do it, anyone can”. Because that is not true. There are all sorts of conditions that require a person to use a wheelchair. For me, the injury to my spine means I do not have the ability to use a self propelled wheelchair. That put me in the unenviable position of relying on someone to push me around, which I found curbed my independence, and wasn’t much fun for the poor beggar doing the pushing either, bearing in mind how much I weighed. I did have use of an electric wheelchair, and scooter, which needed a hoist to lift them in and out of the car, and were not much use in our house, as the doorways and turning spaces were not wide enough. Also, they needed a lot of maintenence, and the battery often gave up when I was out, leaving me stranded.

However, I did find that being a wheelchair user did not mean I could not do any exercise at all. The definition of exercise is quite broad. It doesn’t have to be running a marathon, or even for a bus. There are lots of chair based exercises. Just raising arms, with or without a light hand held weight, and flexing and rotating ankles counts as exercise, and that is how I started my rehab. I also advocate swimming and water exercise. I had been afraid to do that for many years, but the freedom of movement without pain in water, has been amazing. Many pools have easy access or chair hoists to assist access. My mobility and general wellbeing have improved so much. Though I do accept that for some people, “can’t exercise” can mean just that for all sorts of reasons. Some are just so fatigued that just doing basic survival tasks like washing and dressing and eating are their limit. Through surgery, then losing some weight, and gradual increase in activity, starting with the chair based exercise, then pottering round holding furniture, using garden furniture as ‘gym equipment’ to do strengthening exercise, progessing to swimming pool and adapted gym, I have managed to put the wheelchairs away. Hopefully for good. If not, I will still make sure I keep on with as much movement of limbs, as I can to the end of my days.

 

[Pipp]

Logically we should also see average people out for a "stroll" in a wheelchair just as we see people out for a short walk or a slow cycle ride

I think where I live the cars parked on the uneven pavements, the hills, and the dog poo and other debris that gets on the wheels, and subsequently the hands, would be a disincentive.

Edit: and when it rains you are sitting in a puddle.

 

[LittleGreyCat]

I always cringe when an elite disabled or wheelchair using athlete says something like
“ If I can do it, anyone can”. Because that is not true. There are all sorts of conditions that require a person to use a wheelchair. For me, the injury to my spine means I do not have the ability to use a self propelled wheelchair. That put me in the unenviable position of relying on someone to push me around, which I found curbed my independence, and wasn’t much fun for the poor beggar doing the pushing either, bearing in mind how much I weighed. I did have use of an electric wheelchair, and scooter, which needed a hoist to lift them in and out of the car, and were not much use in our house, as the doorways and turning spaces were not wide enough. Also, they needed a lot of maintenence, and the battery often gave up when I was out, leaving me stranded.

Again, sympathy for the spinal injury.

I do have some awareness because my late Cousin was quadriplegic due to an infection as an adult of the central nervous system and just had limited use of her arms.
She more or less lived in an electric wheelchair, and was lifted out of bed in the morning and lifted back in the evening.

She was very fortunate in that she could afford a Motability vehicle, and had enough room in the house to drive around in the wheelchair. The van (which she drove with hand controls) was a real lifeline and she also had a trained Assistance Dog which was another big feature in her life.

It is making me sad to realise that most people probably don't have this assistance.

 

[Guzzler]

It certainly doesn't help when the council cuts the hours one gets with paid female carers and then starts charging higher and higher rates of contributions to be paid by the disabled. I would love to try swimming and was advised to do so by a consultant, I just cannot afford to pay for the extra hours needed with a female carer to do so.

 

[Pipp]

It is understanding rather than sympathy that is needed, @LittleGreyCat . You have started an interesting conversation that will hopefully promote that.

It certainly doesn't help when the council cuts the hours one gets with paid female carers and then starts charging higher and higher rates of contributions to be paid by the disabled. I would love to try swimming and was advised to do so by a consultant, I just cannot afford to pay for the extra hours needed with a female carer to do so.

Yes, I do understand that. I also realise my good fortune in being able to drive, and that there are helpful people at the pool sessions I go to, who will assist when I ask. I usually have swimsuit on at home and easy on and off top wear. I confess when getting dried towel doesn’t always reach all places, and have been known to drive with wet feet, and go commando where undies are concerned. Couldn’t do that on public transport. Sorry if that is TMI.

 

[Guzzler]

For anyone reading this who has poor upper body capacity but who is able to do some sort of strengthening exercise without causing pain, inflammation or breathing problems etc then there are YouTube videos aimed at w/chair users available to view. As always, the advice of your GP or Physio is recommended before embarking on new regimes.

 

[Pipp]

For anyone reading this who has poor upper body capacity but who is able to do some sort of strengthening exercise without causing pain, inflammation or breathing problems etc then there are YouTube videos aimed at w/chair users available to view. As always, the advice of your GP or Physio is recommended before embarking on new regimes.

Fully agree, @Guzzler .
Or if you are as lucky as I have been, your local authority and / or health service could, pethaps have specialist programmes provided with health assessment at sport centre, before beginning a sport regime, and ongoing medical support available during the sessions.

Edit to correct spelling in tag to Guzzler.

 

[TriciaWs]

To be clear, there is a lot of distance between professional athletes and the rest of us.

Cyclists ride the TDF, runners run marathons, etc.

However a gentle walk is still good exercise, as is a gently cycle ride, or a jog if your feet and knees are up to it (which mine aren't).

As stated above, I was curious about how many people could exercise in a wheelchair (like taking a gentle walk or cycle ride).
I don't think I have seen anyone post that their exercise regime is, for example, two miles in a manual wheelchair three times a week.
Yes, we do see elite athletes in wheelchairs.
Logically we should also see average people out for a "stroll" in a wheelchair just as we see people out for a short walk or a slow cycle ride.

I am noting that people posting here who have difficulty exercising seem to have whole body problems, not just dodgy feet or knees for example.

All food for thought.

My sister had polio as a baby. As an adult she had a self-propelled wheelchair and was very active in it. Even going with friends on runs. And when younger she did some of the yoga postures.
Unfortunately she now had serious post-polio syndrome so her arms get very painful if she uses her chair or crutches for long.

 

[lucylocket61]

To be clear, there is a lot of distance between professional athletes and the rest of us.

I agree. You are the one who brought them into this discussion. I feel your tone leaves a lot to be desired, and am bowing out of this thread. I dont want sympathy, I want the wider picture seen of why you dont see people in manual wheelchairs going far. And arms are not legs, the muscles are smaller and the its very hard on them, and their back too, to self propel, even if they can find suitable pavements.

I have CFS/ME and any exercise makes it worse.

 

[Pipp]

I agree. You are the one who brought them into this discussion. I feel your tone leaves a lot to be desired, and am bowing out of this thread. I dont want sympathy, I want the wider picture seen of why you dont see people in manual wheelchairs going far. And arms are not legs, the muscles are smaller and the its very hard on them, and their back too, to self propel, even if they can find suitable pavements.

I have CFS/ME and any exercise makes it worse.

I am sorry you feel that way, @lucylocket61.
I also understand how debilitating CFS/ME is. However, what I am seeing from the OP, is a need for better understanding of how using a wheelchair impacts on ability to exercise. It can be frustrating to think you are being judged, but I don’t see that here.
It would be a shame if the conversation stops here, because it will miss an opportunity to inform.
I would agree that sometimes sympathy can be interpreted as ‘pity’. Which no disabled person I know wants, but it is a step up from being mocked, or ignored.