Tagged with: disability exercise fitness health Physical Activity There are many types of disabilities and health conditions that alter the fundamental dynamics of participating in an exercise program. For example if you had a bone fracture due to osteoporosis, in your knee, hip, wrist, or spine, you have to be mindful of certain exercises that can improve your bone strength and balance stability.
Tagged with: athletes awareness exercise fitness health Physical Activity recreation sports
Although most people experience the sport of rowing on the Olympics, most of the Southern states of America do not know exactly what this competitive sport entails. Throughout my college career, I never expected to join a team, much less, a rowing team. I never thought I was athletic enough, I never thought I was competitive enough, and I never thought I would be able to find a sport that fit me. After playing violin for 12 years, I’m sure you can see why. However, upon my second year in college, I got recruited to be on the team. You would think that this is because the recruitment chair thought I was athletic, strong, had long legs, etc… but that certainly was not the case. Little did I know, I was being recruited for one of the most difficult and frustrating positions on a rowing team: the coxswain.
Tagged with: Autism children disabilities exercise fitness health kids life Physical Activity Swimming is an extremely popular sport for children with disabilities – a fact that I have witnessed first-hand on many occasions. In particular, I have found it to be a particularly beneficial activity for children with learning difficulties, and many whom I have taught have gone on to become exceptional club – and even national-standard – swimmers.
Tagged with: accessibility awareness disabilities disability rights education employment fitness sports Over the last few days the issues of derogative names and language have been part of an interesting discussion in our sport world. As a matter of fact it has been going on over the past few months if you include a certain west coast owner of a basketball team and an apologetic horse owner. Today, we are dealing with another professional sport team that is dealing with a similar issue.
Tagged with: children disabilities exercise fitness health kids Physical Activity wheelchair Adults with disabilities are three times more likely to suffer from diabetes, heart disease, stroke or cancer as those without disabilities, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Participation in physical activity can reduce the risk of such diseases, but nearly 50 percent of adults with disabilities report engaging in little to no aerobic activity. A number of programs and activities are available for both adults and children with disabilities to help get them the exercise they need.
Tagged with: exercise fitness Physical Activity Whether you live in Colorado or are just visiting, you’ll find many opportunities to combine a love of the outdoors with exercise that’s good for your heart. Whether it’s as sedate as a walk through a city neighborhood or as spine-tingling as white-water rafting, Colorado offers outdoor activities to suit everyone’s exercise needs.
Tagged with: disability exercise fitness health life Physical Activity programs recreation research What do the people in this picture have in common? Willingness! Usually they would be exercising in an aquatics class. But the day this photo was taken, the pool was unexpectedly closed. It would have been so easy for any one of them to say, “Well, I tried to exercise, but I couldn’t, so I’m going home.” As you can see, they did not go home. They stayed and danced in chairs!
Tagged with: awareness disabilities exercise fitness health Physical Activity recreation research sports wheelchair As I studied the concept of Active and Healthy Aging for one of my recent blogs, I began to reflect on the concepts of Healthy Living and engaging in a Healthy Lifestyle. The definition of Healthy Living that I most relate to as a person with a disability comes from a 2003 article called “Health and Wellness: People with disabilities discuss barriers and facilitators to well-being”. Healthy living is described as “people with disabilities being able to function, be independent, having both a physical and emotional state of well-being, and an absence of pain.” [i] The walking program that I started in 2006 was born from the idea that I want to remain independent, be pain-free, and do what I want to do when I choose.
Tagged with: accessibility athletes coach disability exercise fitness health inclusion life Physical Activity sports wheelchair Somehow the soft knock at my bedroom door wakes me up quicker than the melodic tone of my 8 a.m. phone alarm.
Elijah, who woke up in the bedroom next to mine two minutes prior to knocking, steps through the door.
He grabs me a pair of sweatpants and a t-shirt, helps me sit up in my chair, and puts my glasses on. He’s been with me for five years. The morning routine comes as natural as waking up.
Tagged with: disabilities exercise fitness health Obesity Physical Activity wheelchair Having a physical disability can open various activity options that many can enjoy. What this means is that there are 56 million people with disabilities that do not have to succumb to doing nothing at all. According to an article by the Center for Disease Control in April of 2014, adults with disabilities are 58-percent more likely to have a problem with obesity and those that don’t have a physical impairment. For children, the difference is at 38-percent. This demonstrates that those with disabilities are not getting proper nutrition or enough physical activity in order to burn excess energy. Improper diet and lack of exercise can lead to
