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The Lent Experiment Part 1 – The Beginning
Good News Everyone! Exciting little announcement before I get into the main thrust of this latest blog entry: Towards the end of last year I was contacted by one of the founders of the website Feedspot. He informed me that my blog had been selected as one of the Top 30 Quadriplegic Blogs on the ... Read more
The Disability Invisibility (Part 2)
*I had aimed for this to follow up Part 1 within a month, however moving house, writing off my car and being without a computer for nearly 4 weeks has led to some unforeseen delays for which I can only apologise! But without further ado, it’s time for Part 2! From Bathrooms To Bays In ... Read more
Does Paralympic sport benefit the right athletes?
Paralympic sport has come a long way from its humble beginnings at the Stoke Mandeville spinal cord injury unit in England just after the Second World War. This small sporting event, which at the time used competition between those with similar injuries to assist the rehabilitation of wheelchair users, is now a worldwide phenomenon. The ... Read more
The Disability Invisibility (Part 1)
Post Easter Intro Hey guys! I hope everyone had a great Easter and celebrated Jesus’ resurrection in the most appropriate way possible – by ploughing through a mountain of hollowed-out, chocolate eggs that were delivered by an omnipotent rabbit! I gave up chocolate for lent this year, but like a recovering addict who’s fallen off ... Read more
Getting Active With Active Hands 2017: Exercise 6
No Time Like The Present Over the last few days we have shown just a few of the possibilities open to you if you go to the gym with the right attitude and the right set of gripping aids! On top of the exercises listed here, are scores of others that can be undertaken and worked ... Read more
Getting Active With Active Hands 2017: Exercise 5
Activity: Rowing Machine Used in conjunction with: Looped Exercise Aids Beneficial for: Increasing strength in arms, shoulders and upper torso; increasing stamina and cardio; overall fitness I find the rowing machine to be a particularly useful piece of equipment and one that can actually be used from a wheelchair. The seat and slider can be ... Read more
Getting Active With Active Hands 2017: Exercise 4
Activity: Handbike Used in conjunction with: General Purpose Gripping Aid Beneficial for: Increasing strength in arms; increasing stamina and cardio; overall fitness Static handbike machines are great for wheelchair users and those who struggle with treadmills or regular exercise bikes, as they allow you to work up a sweat, get a good, fitness-based workout and ... Read more
Getting Active With Active Hands 2017: Exercise 3
Activity: Cable & pulley machines Used in conjunction with: D-Ring Aids Beneficial for: Increasing strength and muscle tone in arms and shoulders; maintaining suppleness and flexibility of joints; increasing stamina Cable and pulley machines are ideal for wheelchair users as you can often set them up at whatever height you want and do the exercises ... Read more
Getting Active With Active Hands 2017: Exercise 2
Activity: Weights machines Used in conjunction with: Looped Exercise Aids Beneficial for: Increasing strength, power and muscle tone in arms, shoulders and upper torso Weights machines can often be tricky for disabled gym goers to access, as most of them do not have removable seats, and so being able to use them will depend on ... Read more
Getting Active With Active Hands 2017: Exercise 1
Free weights are the bread and butter of many people’s trips to the gym, especially if disability has meant that ‘leg day’ is permanently skipped! When this is the case, building up strength in your arms becomes absolutely essential, as having the strength and ability to lift yourself, do various transfers and push a wheelchair can often be the difference between complete independence and having to rely on others.