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