LOS ANGELES—For those who have a disability of some form, however big or small, it can be a very difficult and challenging time. Disabled refers to any physical limitation that can affect an individual’s daily life, and can include spinal cord injury, blindness, deafness, stroke or sensory nerve damage.

The American Association on Health and Disability, aahd.us, cites the secondary problems a disabled person may be increasingly susceptible to. These include: cancer, heart disease, diabetes, hypertension, seizures, stroke, obesity, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and asthma. Exercise and healthy eating is increasingly believed to reduce the risk of these conditions, and medical professionals recognize that it can help to dramatically improve the overall quality of life for disabled people. So it is vital that disabled people are given as many options as possible in which to exercise and improve their eating habits.

Photo by Jocelyn Holt

When we consider exercise for people with disabilities, one tends to think of the more limited aspects; however, there are an increasingly wider abundance and diversity of exercises and training methods available that can be adopted into a daily routine tailored to the individual’s needs and goals. These can help build up strength in the working muscles, often to become far superior and stronger than before. Isometric training, strength training which forces the muscles to contract while the body stays static, is very effective. Yoga is also an excellent workout for not only the muscles and skeletal form, but also for increasing the efficiency and health of the internal organs and digestive system. Controlled and balanced exercise for as little as 20 to 30 minutes each day will train the body’s cardiovascular element and also improve flexibility and strength. This will help to prepare the individual for later life, with a reduced risk of arthritis, joint pain and osteoporosis (which can be particularly common in women).

There are many sports disabled people are able to play. Basketball, horseback riding, swimming, tennis and soccer can all be achieved and enjoyed by those who are disabled. These sports can actually see individuals go on to become fit far beyond their more able-bodied friends.

A rebuilding of faith, hope and optimism for the future can see a fresh world open up for those who are disabled. A world full of new opportunity and ambition. Having a disability does not destroy the chance to be happy and to live a full and prosperous life. It is up to the individual, regardless of what card they have been dealt, to make the most of every second that life has to offer.

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