| Ask most people of the challenges they face following | | | | wheelchairs who desire to quench the burning desire |
| through with an exercise program and you're likely to | | | | of sport and competition... |
| hear the common complaints: Lack of motivation, being | | | | International Paralympic Committee |
| too tired, not having enough time, too busy. Or as | | | | The Paralympic Games are the Olympic equivalent |
| someone recently told me, "My get up and go has | | | | competitions for individuals with disabilities and are |
| gotten up and gone". | | | | recognized by the International Olympic Committee. |
| But imagine having the unique challenge of not being | | | | The IPC organizes the Paralympic Games along with |
| able to, literally, "get up and go". This is the unique | | | | other multi-disability competitions, from regional to world |
| challenge of the more than 56 million disabled individuals | | | | championships, with the highest achieving athletes in |
| in the U.S. alone, many who are wheelchair users. | | | | each sport qualifying for the Paralympics. IPC's vision: |
| For many involved in the mainstream fitness industry, | | | | "To enable paralympic athletes to achieve sporting |
| the term "wheelchair exerciser" may conjure up | | | | excellence and inspire and excite the world." Inspire, |
| images of someone in a physical therapy setting in the | | | | indeed! The next time you'd rather skip a workout, surf |
| process of rehabilitation from injury or disability. But | | | | over to this site and be inspired by these athletes. A |
| consider the wheelchair user who wants to participate | | | | truly amazing organization. |
| in regular exercise for weight loss or muscle gain. Or | | | | Disabled Sports USA |
| those with the burning desire to compete in a favorite | | | | A non-profit organization established in 1967 by |
| sport. What services meet their unique challenges? | | | | disabled Vietnam veterans, DS/USA offers nationwide |
| Fortunately, there are many options that those in | | | | sports rehabilitation programs to anyone with a |
| wheelchairs have in pursuing fitness goals: | | | | permanent disability. Promotes successful rehabilitation |
| Access to facilities | | | | and ongoing quality of life through sports and |
| The Americans with Disabilities Act signed in 1990 | | | | competition. Conducts training camps to prepare and |
| helped increase the availability of wheelchair-accessible | | | | select athletes for the Summer and Winter Paralympic |
| facilities, including health clubs. As more and more | | | | Games. DS/USA has a nationwide network of |
| private health clubs follow suit, individuals who use | | | | community-based chapters, which is listed on the |
| wheelchairs will have increasing options. | | | | website. |
| However, access alone does not ensure that | | | | Canadian Wheelchair Sports Association |
| wheelchair exercisers will have the appropriate | | | | The CWSA is non-for-profit organization whose |
| equipment to meet their strength training and | | | | mission is to promote excellence and develop |
| cardiovascular needs. It's easy enough to modify | | | | opportunities for Canadians in wheelchair sport. |
| certain upper-body exercises with dumbbells and | | | | Wheelchair Sports, USA |
| resistance bands for a seated exercise, but most | | | | Provides athletic experiences for disabled athletes that |
| machines simply will not accommodate a wheelchair. | | | | parallel those of mainstream athletes. The website |
| Effective aerobic training can be even harder to | | | | states the organization is "directed and developed by |
| accomplish, since most cardiovascular machines | | | | wheelchair athletes and wheelchair sports enthusiasts |
| require use of the legs to raise the heart rate. | | | | alike, individuals with a first-hand understanding to the |
| Adaptive Exercise Machines | | | | values of participation." Wheelchair Sports USA is |
| Fortunately, there is a large number of adaptable | | | | recognized by the U.S. Olympic Committee, and also |
| exercise machines available to the exerciser and to | | | | has offerings to junior athletes. |
| health clubs that choose to offer adaptive exercise | | | | The Wheelchair Bodybuilding Page |
| options: | | | | Contest schedule for Wheelchair Bodybuilding |
| The Endorphin Corporation | | | | Contests, links to bodybuilding federations that promote |
| Manufacturer of wheelchair accessible fitness | | | | wheelchair bodybuilding contests. |
| machines for both cardiovascular and strength | | | | International Wheelchair Basketball Federation |
| conditioning, including the hand cycle and tabletop bike. | | | | National Wheelchair Basketball Federation |
| Access To Recreation | | | | Extreme Sports |
| Exercise equipment and recreational products for the | | | | Traditional sports are fine, but what if tastes crave |
| wheelchair-bound such as all terrain wheelchairs, pool | | | | more extreme sporting activities? Not to worry. Check |
| lifts and more. | | | | out the following sites for information about extreme |
| Spinlife | | | | wheelchair sports and get ready to be Extreme |
| Sells wheelchairs of all types. Contains resource | | | | enthusiast and motivational speaker Michael McKeller |
| section. | | | | overcame spinal muscular atrophy to conquer |
| Adaptive Fitness Personal Trainers | | | | extreme sports such as skydiving, scuba diving, |
| Finally recognizing the need for fitness professionals to | | | | boating, and flying. Offers extreme sports video series |
| be knowledgeable about the needs of wheelchair | | | | featuring McKeller in the pursuit of accomplishing one |
| exercisers, a number of personal trainer organizations | | | | extreme sport at a time. His mission? "To invite |
| offer specialized certifications and/or programs in | | | | everyone to take a look at how he does it and try it |
| Adaptive Fitness. This is good news for those who | | | | for themselves." |
| desire professional instruction by a trainer who is | | | | Mobility Engineering Inc. |
| knowledgeable of special needs. The following are a | | | | Designer and manufacturer of adaptive sports |
| few organizations that offer either certification | | | | equipment that opens up new adventures for disabled |
| program in Adaptive Fitness or specialized education: | | | | persons. Includes 100% arm-powered vehicles called |
| International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA) | | | | the "Hand Bike" and the "Snow Pod." Website features |
| Specialist in Adaptive Fitness | | | | past extreme trip details. |
| American Association for Active Lifestyles & Fitness | | | | General and Recreational/Wheelchair Sport Websites |
| emplate.cfm?template=adaptedaquatics.html | | | | Wheelchairnet.org |
| Exercise videos, TV Programs and Manuals | | | | A "wheelchair virtual community" for people with a |
| Some may feel more comfortable working out in the | | | | common interest in wheelchair technology and its |
| privacy of their own home rather than travelling to the | | | | application. An excellent resource for the wheelchair |
| gym. For those searching for in-home instruction, | | | | user. Site includes databases, slide lectures, article |
| resources such as exercise videos, TV programs and | | | | reprints, and discussion area. |
| printed instruction manuals can help the wheelchair | | | | Accessible Fitness |
| user increase activity levels, lose fat and gain muscle | | | | Take a look at this fitness center in Santa Clara, CA. |
| mass: | | | | Established to help the physically-challenged to attain |
| Armchair Fitness | | | | both the physical and mental benefits of exercise, it |
| Classic armchair exercises developed by fitness | | | | offers a wheelchair accessible gym, in-home exercise |
| expert Betty Switkes. Includes videotapes for aerobic, | | | | programs, adaptive fitness personal trainers, |
| strength, yoga, and "gentle" formats. | | | | workshops and more. |
| Maria Serrao's Workout Tapes emplate_movies | | | | The Muscular Dystrophy Organization |
| ype_browse/mode_290298 | | | | Website carries loads of information, resources, and |
| Actress and model Maria Serrao, in a wheelchair since | | | | motivational stories. |
| the age of 5, stars in a series of exercise videotapes | | | | Disabled Go Info |
| including: Everyone Can Exercise-Cardio Challenge, | | | | Offers detailed access information for disabled people |
| Toning & Strengthening, Real Life Fitness-Body | | | | across the UK. |
| Sculpting, Real Life Fitness- Fat Burning. | | | | Magazines |
| Sit and Be Fit with Mary Ann Wilson | | | | Sports n Spokes Magazine |
| Seated exercise videos for older adults and/or | | | | Magazine with international circulation covering the |
| physically limited individuals. Sit and Be Fit is also a | | | | latest in competitive wheelchair sports and recreational |
| cable TV series; the broadcast schedule is listed on | | | | opportunities. |
| the website. | | | | Paralinks |
| Paul Gaudino's Family Fitness Show | | | | The magazine for people with spinal cord injury. A |
| Cable TV exercise show that features exercises for | | | | web site dedicated exclusively for the wheelchair |
| the disabled, wheelchair bound, seniors, people with | | | | culture of the world. |
| back pain, and beginners. Exercise videotapes are | | | | It's clear that being in a wheelchair doesn't mean |
| available through his website. | | | | leading a sedentary lifestyle. For those individuals in |
| Creative Chair Exercises | | | | wheelchairs who wish to exercise, remain active, or |
| A Seated Exercise manual by Bob Blick, including both | | | | compete in sports, numerous resources exist. For |
| aerobic and strength formats. | | | | those not in wheelchairs, take a look at any of the |
| The Thrill of Victory... | | | | above links. You'll soon forget about using any of the |
| Wheelchair Sports and Competition | | | | old, worn-out excuses not to get off the couch and |
| Numerous and exciting options exist for individuals in | | | | get active. |