Staying Fit While Living with a Spinal Cord Injury
Are you struggling with getting back into shape after you suffered a spinal cord injury? Well, you are not alone. Many of us, after our injury, either put on an excess amount of weight or lose an excess amount of weight. Neither is good, so it is very important I share with you some of my thoughts about staying fit, along with providing a few secrets to my daily fitness routine. Whether your goal is to improve your overall health, looking for a certain body aesthetic, or want something to do consistently, this read is for you.
When I suffered my injury in 2005, there was not much literature or resources on exercising while living with a spinal cord injury. I assumed the only place I could work out would be under the supervision of a physical therapist. Unfortunately, due to insurance limitations on outpatient rehabilitation, I knew I would be limited to a certain amount of outpatient sessions per week and a limited amount for the year. Therefore, for the first three years post-injury, I was not working out unless I was at therapy, which equated to approximately 2.5 hours per week, which is good but not great!
There are many benefits of regular exercise for individuals with spinal cord injuries. One of the benefits is weight management—both eating patterns and what to eat to produce enough energy to sustain your day is fundamental. Along with eating, another versignificantnefit from exercising is improved bones and muscles; for those that have suffered a spinal cord injury—the prevention of osteoporosis is essential for longevity.
Join Our Movement
What started as an idea has become a national movement. With your support, we can influence policy and inspire lasting change.
Become an Advocate
Regular exercise can also improve your bowel routine. Studies have shown that an increase in physical activity can regulate bowel movements. Exercise promotes hydration and with an increase in fluid intake, it can lead to increase in bowel movements. Along with improvement to your bowel routine, exercise also helps with improving your quality of life. Exercise is one of the biggest techniques and tools used to combat stress. Another important reason to stay active while living with SCI is to prevent the onset of other illnesses. High blood pressure and diabetes can develop while living with SCI, which can lead to other health declines.
In summary, exercise can prevent the onset of many other illnesses. Currently there are a quite few virtual adaptive fitness programs, which makes it a lot more accessible for everyone to get a workout in. There also may be in-person adaptive programs in your area. Ways you can access this information is by subscribing to their newsletters or by following them on social media.
Here are some great resources:
Home - United Spinal Association
Move United (moveunitedsport.org)
Spinal Cord Injury Research Center at Mount Sinai (mssm.edu)