An Exercise Guide for People with Limited Mobility

For people with limited mobility, exercising can be a daunting ordeal. The thought of putting strain on their body when they are already living with considerable physical pain can be highly discouraging, or they might lack the self-confidence to try and exercise when people with no disabilities make it look routine. These factors go some way to explaining why more than 7 out of 10 people with limited mobility obtain little or no exercise at all.

It’s undoubtedly a challenge, but it’s not one that is beyond the capabilities of many disabled people. Of course, some injuries could be so restricting that exercise might not be possible, but in plenty of cases, there are exercises which can be done and won’t add strain to a part of the body that is permanently in pain. Also, positive motivation can act as a real incentive to disabled people to try and undertake physical activity. Something as simple as a friendly word from a family member can make a tremendous difference.

Thanks to equipment such as cardiovascular exercise bikes, wheelchair multi-gyms and hand cycles, all of which are designed for the benefit of people with limited mobility, exercising has become much more attainable. Simple activities like boxing, yoga, aerobics and swimming can all make a huge impact in the life of a disabled person, with the potential reward of feeling far more self-assured and accomplished if regular exercise is maintained.

For more advice about exercising for people with limited mobility, have a look at this infographic from chronic pain charity Burning Nights (http://www.burningnightscrps.org/).