Being active is important for everyone and we should all try to do some form of physical activity every day. Being active provides us with opportunities for social engagement, friendships, and independence. Physical activity is important for:
- improving and maintaining muscle strength
- improving circulation and cardiovascular function
- achieving and maintaining a healthy body weight
- maintaining joint mobility
- managing pain
- improving mood and mental wellbeing.
The current Australian guidelines recommend that we should all do activities that make us breathe harder and increase our heartrate each day. In addition, we should aim to do activities that help to strengthen our muscles three times a week. You could choose to do all your exercise in one session, or you could break it up into shorter sessions throughout the day.
There are lots of activities and exercises you can do to increase your strength and fitness. Being in a wheelchair or having difficulties with walking and mobility shouldn’t stop you from being active. Some activities you could try include:
- swimming or hydrotherapy
- going for a walk or a wheel in your wheelchair
- playing a sport (wheelchair basketball, tennis, wheelchair racing, race running)
- gym programs and strength training
- hand cycling
- bike riding with modified bike or hand cycle
- modified rock climbing, surfing, sailing
- wheelchair yoga or dancing.
Talk to your spinal disabilities physiotherapist about which sports and activities would be good for you.
If it has been a while since you have done an exercise program or physical activity, you should check with your doctor or health professional before starting. You may be able to use NDIS funds to help support you to be active. This could include accessing adaptive equipment through the NDIS such as sports wheelchairs or a modified bike or hand cycle. NDIS funds may also be used for physiotherapy and/or exercise physiology to provide individualised exercise programs and modifications so that you can be involved.
