wheelchairs suck

[abacoian]

Hi all,

 

I'm happy to find this forum. I broke my neck in a diving accident at a young age. At 40 I still feel young. Years pass and life goes on. I use a power chair to give my life some independence. I was never supposed to be able to walk, at first I was completely paralyzed. But I slowly got movement back, but always dependent on a wheelchair. But I asked my therapists to stand me up, and from there I started struggling to take steps. Always mainly for therapy and when my practice was over back into the chair. Life goes on and years pass by. I've never stopped trying and never stopped believing. It's not easy to train / exercise from a wheelchair but I do as best I can even when I feel like quitting.

 

I strongly believe (know more than believe) that I still have the potential to be so much better if only I knew exactly the most effective exercises to train and strengthen each area of my body. For example, shoulders, arms, trunk, back, legs, hips. If I could just grasp the understanding of a few key strengthening exercises and movements for each area and their movements and do these key things properly and effectively every day or every other day, my progress would explode.

 

My obstacles are I struggle with understanding the basics and keys to anatomy and movements. And the things I do understand it is a great challenge to train from a wheelchair. I believe for core strengthening that I could improve greatly by being able to get on the floor and just try rolling side to side and trying to sit up and getting on my stomach. But, I can't get on or off the floor without assistance. I'm contemplating getting an electric winch put in my ceiling to help me start getting on the floor regularly. 

 

Right now I do as much as I can trying not to neglect things but truthfully I don't know what I'm doing, just that doing something is better than nothing. But if things could just be simplified for me and I just knew the keys to training each area and movements, my training would be so much less burdensome. When I think about all that has to be done I get so overwhelmed, but if all I had to focus on were keys like okay if you want your shoulders / arms to move the way they were made to then these are the key handful of exercises that you need to perform at least this many times a week. And the same for all other areas.

 

For me it's not all about walking or getting rid of the wheelchair, but if that is possible why wouldn't I want to fight for that? But it's about using my potential and being as good as I can be. And I'm nowhere close to that.

 

Hopefully there's someone who understands what I'm saying even though I can not put it fully into words.

 

I thank you for listening and perhaps with your help and knowledge you will be a part of something great.

 

Sincerely,

Ian

[Garris]

Hey Ian welcome!

 

there are lots of great people here on the board with a wealth of experience in nutrition and excersize. Ask lots of questions !

 

just out of curiousity have you asked your Doctor about a reference to a physical therapist or other such expert. Most of us are just hobbyist people , maybe it would be a good idea to go visit a professional?

 

[K8E80]

Ian,

 

you got this! Keep at it and you will end up inspiring others.

[Wobbegong]

Welcome to Nerd Fitness, Ian!

 

I'm seconding @Garris, even if you do run into a certified PT or MD on the forums, without being able to give you an in-person physical they probably can't give you any medical advice. The rest of us are laypeople. 

 

However, we can brainstorm ideas and things you can look into. I'm aware of several in-chair fitness workouts developed for office-bound people, and I know at least a few DVD routines specifically intended for those who are wheelchair-bound exist. You can search Google for them and find something that looks like it might suit you. (Even with all the information in your original post, I have no idea what your actual physical abilities are right now, aside from that you can't stand unassisted. Can you extend your legs in front of you? What's your range of motion in your shoulders?)

 

There's also things like aquatic therapy to build strength with a lessened risk of falling, and special equipment a physical therapist should have such as parallel bars for working on walking. Again, a certified PT would know the most about your options. 

 

Anyone can learn about anatomy and physiology if they're persistent. Your local library will have plenty of books on the subject. In addition, many bodyweight and yoga books discuss anatomy at least briefly. (Mostly the advice is "don't force your body past its range of motion," but I have no idea if that advice applies when you're trying to recover from something like a broken neck.)

 

Best of luck!

[abacoian]

Hi guys,

 

I thank you so much for your feedback. I will for sure be asking questions. Apart from having a spinal cord injury and being in a wheelchair, I'm pretty healthy. Thankfully I don't have to go to a Dr. very much. I don't have insurance so Dr's visits aren't a regular thing. I know there are good Dr's and Pt's but also know from experience that many are not interested in putting in more effort that goes beyond their training. It's easy to write a script or to direct someone with a sprained ankle to move their foot. It's even easier to look at someone in a wheelchair and put them in a categorized box. To get someone out of a wheelchair and onto the floor and help them move and and fire muscles is quite a bit more involved work wise than assuming that staying in the wheelchair for the scheduled 30 or 60 minute session would be easier for all involved. I believe that someone that lives in a situation 24 / 7 knows their body and ability a lot better than someone who many times are just doing their job 60 minutes at a time.

 

Every once in a while I do go to a Pilates session and am pleased with my instructor. I would go more often but one reason I don't is because it's a 60 minute drive. But it is a great benefit that I can go at lease once in a while.

 

I thank you guys again!

[Guzzi]

I'll be back!  I can't reply right now because my brain is mush from painkillers/exhaustion.  I don't have any advice really but I understand what you're saying and wanted to say hello.