Comments on: I need to move

By: Ronald

Ronald — Sun, 11 May 2008 19:48:34 +0000

Very well said. I think this illustrates what one will have live with/live without should they beocme disabled. Dealing with the desire to be once again able bodied…..hmmmn.

By: Sean

Sean — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 22:19:28 +0000

I don’t “read” the needing to move in quite the same way. My body does that, it insists on moving. Not because I don’t exercise or anything. Heck, I’m at the gym more often than not during a week, and I play (wheelchair) sports.

It’s not about exercising the legs. It’s just that the body takes over and insists on moving.

By: Rroschach

Rroschach — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 10:09:05 +0000

I have to echo what others are saying, you can still move and be true to your ideal body type. As I was reading this I was thinking of a passive exercise bike. Also, while it wouldn’t solve the issue of motion you could always try some sort of electronic muscle stimulator to at least relieve some of your pain and frustration.

By: jocelyn

jocelyn — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 10:06:20 +0000

I agree with Ahiru - I’m a T8 para and I have some sensation in my hips and thighs - the spasticity and the inactivity makes me ache like crazy. I think you have to take a pragmatic view of it and retain whatever works for as long as possible - para or not, inflicting pain on yourself by not keeping what you’ve got is crazy.
but - there are lots of ways to do it passively if you need to. There is of course the negotiation of how long, and what to do… nobody wants to spend all of their time on stretching, etc., so there’s always a limit to what people have patience for.
You could try a form of passive exercise bike - like the one in this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e83hhkObTjY
Otherwise, swimming is always good, I do a sort of adaptive yoga. Wheelchair sports are great - though I’ve never walked so I couldn’t tell you whether that would “Scratch the itch” of moving your legs - but it sure does it for me.

By: Jen

Jen — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 17:04:34 +0000

Do you have access to a gym? Some of them have machines that will work your upper body to get your heart rate up, without damaging your shoulders.

Could you have enough mobility to use a recumbent exercise bike?

Do you know anyone who has a tandem bike?

And stretching is always good, too.

But I know what you mean. You want to move. Your body wants to move. This is the time of year when it wants to wake up.

By: Ahiru

Ahiru — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 12:31:09 +0000

You could always try doing range of motion exercises like paras and quads do, although you wouldn’t be doing it for the same reason they do it would be getting the blood and muscles working. You wouldn’t have to move your legs on their own.