How do you stay fit as a wheelchair user? While most programs and facilities are not created with accessibility in mind, it isn’t impossible to find a workout that’s enjoyable and effective. Four of our brand ambassadors and Q Roll Models talk about how they exercise with a disability and how you can get started.
Jesse Cuellar: Working Out as a Quadriplegic
There are many facets to working out, therefore making everyone think something different when you ask them what working out means to them. For some people, it may mean primarily doing cardio, such as running or dancing. For others, they may think that working out involves going to the gym and using machines. For wheelchair users, finding adaptive equipment at the gym that accommodates their range of mobility can be a challenge. Jesse discusses how he works out at home during the quarantine. He uses adaptive equipment and his motorized wheelchair with iLevel® also aids him in his exercises. Learn more about working out as a quadriplegic.
Emily Ladau: Working it Out
Sometimes when people give us pushback, it propels us forward into something even better than we could imagine. One common misconception about wheelchair users is that they can’t exercise or that exercising is futile. These kinds of assumptions fuel Emily Ladau to prove naysayers wrong.
Many of us put “exercise more” or “lose weight” on our list of New Year’s resolutions but fall off the wagon after a month or two. Emily is a rare example of someone who is still committed to their resolution after several months. She dishes on how to find different kinds of seated exercises for free and ways to stay motivated when aiming to be consistent in making exercising a part of your routine.
Isabella Bullock: Wheelchair Weight Loss
Working out is only one part of staying fit. When it comes to weight loss that lasts, it’s all about leading a healthy lifestyle. But how does one change their lifestyle when they don’t know where to start? With so many fad diets, workout crazes and products that make promises, it’s difficult to know what really helps. Isabella Bullock aims to empower other wheelchair users to embark on their own weight loss journeys as she models for them what is possible. As she tells her story, she shares tips that help her in her own weight loss journey, as well as how she found the right plan for her based on her interests and personality.
Bryan Anderson: Staying Fit with a Disability
What happens when you have to change up your workout routine? Before becoming a triple amputee, working out for Bryan Anderson meant competing as a gymnast and playing sports. When his injury forced him to make changes, he realized that working out was simpler than we make it. If we can move our bodies, we can work out. Bryan talks about some of the exercises he does that target different parts of the body. Most of all, he says that we shouldn’t care about what other people might say or do if and when you make this decision for yourself. Getting healthy isn’t about others. It’s about you.
If you are interested in developing your own exercise routine, it’s important to consult with your physician or physical therapist before beginning.
