Better computers and advances in neuroscience have created a recent flurry of progress in brain interface technologies and robotics. Now researchers are betting that these technological breakthroughs can pay big dividends for paralyzed patients. They can reduce the need for attendant care and improve the quality of life for the approximately six million people in the United States living with paralysis.
Yoga may be the latest trend that’s gaining traction worldwide, but in truth, it’s an ancient practice that’s been around for thousands of years. Yoga emphasizes the mind-body connection, and for most people, the image of a “yogi” is a fit young woman twisting into challenging shapes most of us could only dream of achieving. For many people who live their lives from a wheelchair, gaining the many benefits of yoga may seem impossible. The truth is that yoga is less about the poses themselves—and more about the breathing, connection and meditative aspects of the practice. But how can yoga poses even be adapted for a chair? Let’s find out!
Back in October there was National Bullying Prevention Month, and we would be remiss if we didn’t talk about one of the most prevalent types of harassment affecting young people today, cyberbullying.
Why do so many of us give up on regular exercise, even though it makes us feel so good? Because it’s hard. The hardest part about exercising regularly, however, isn’t our own physical limitations most of the time. Whether you’re someone with a disability struggling to stay fit or someone who is having trouble sticking with a regular exercise program, the problem is often rooted in mental roadblocks. Exercise routines are endlessly adaptable, and even though they should include challenges for your body, your mind may be what’s holding you back from success. Here’s why the right positive fitness mindset is so essential to any exercise program.
Doctor visits are important for anyone, but particularly for people who have a disability. It’s wise to check in regularly to prevent future complications and determine what lifestyle adjustments will provide you with the best quality of life. But those visits can take up hours to get through, and often, you have to schedule an appointment weeks in advance.
| Have you ever been in a nursing home? Who’s there? Who gets sick first? Who keeps him out of a nursing home? (She does.) |
When we hear personal stories about Long Term Care experiences, they’re almost always negative. Siblings become angry with each other over whose responsibility the parents care is supposed to be. Dad visited mom every day for two years before she died. When she passed away, she didn’t know who he was anymore. And, all their savings went to the nursing home and there was nothing left for him.
The field of robotics is always expanding and evolving, with many researchers working constantly toward more lifelike robots who function like humans. Earlier this year, news broke that Japanese robotics experts at the Tokyo Institute of Technology had successfully created a robot that was equipped with multifilament artificial muscles. These robotic muscles work in the same way ours do, by contracting and relaxing—just less efficiently. While this robot offers us a look into the future of robotic development, other breakthroughs have proved more immediately useful. For example, the soft robots that look nothing like humans, but also mimic our muscle movements.
Having a disability doesn’t mean you can’t be active and healthy at the same time. In fact, everyone needs daily exercise in their lives in order to feel good and improve body function and mood. The key is to ask your doctor about what’s right for you. For example, what will work well with any medications you’re taking, and how much exercise should you try to get in within a given week?
The key to healthy living is to eat properly. When you consume healthy food your body is supplemented with all the necessary enrichment. So much so that eating right food has a direct impact on our way of thinking and how an individual feels. A healthy diet boosts immunity gives you energy and makes you feel good. All you have to do is find the right combination of food supplements which comprise required levels of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins.
