Exercises for wheelchair-bound patients can provide a number of benefits, including keeping your body limber, increasing energy levels, lubricating your joints, improving strength and enhancing posture while also improving your overall level of health. Check with your physician prior to starting any new exercise program. Not all exercises might be suitable for your condition.
Spine Flexing
Exercises for wheelchair-bound patients can improve spine and neck flexibility. Stretch these areas by sitting upright in your wheelchair to lengthen your spine. Lift your left arm and place it in a hooked position over the left back side of your chair. Take your right arm and reach across your body to slightly rotate your spine to the left. Keep your arms in this position for 15 seconds and move your eyes as far as possible to the left. Look straight ahead. Look to your right. Gently return your body to the center position. Relax 10 seconds. Repeat this stretching wheelchair exercise by rotating your body to the right.
Overhead Picking
Being a pretend fruit picker can be an exercise for wheelchair-bound patients that increases blood circulation and range of motion, lengthens your spine and keeps your fingers limber. Sit upright in your wheelchair. Keep your eyes focused straight ahead. Lift your right hand and pretend you are picking fruit off of the highest tree possible. Make certain to stretch your fingers as widely as possible. Do this exercise10 times. Lower your right hand to the original position. Lift your left hand and repeat the exercise another 10 times.
Wrist Strengtheners
Exercises for wheelchair-bound patients can strengthen wrist muscles, which can help with lifting and picking up items. Strengthen your wrists by doing wrist curls. Sit upright in your wheelchair. Place a 1 to 2 lb. weight in your right hand. Lift your arm and place your forearm onto the right arm of your chair with your palm facing up. Gently and slowly move the weight toward the ceiling. Hold this position 10 seconds. Return your wrist to the original position. Relax 10 seconds. Lower your wrist down so the weight is closer to the floor. Hold this position 10 seconds. Return your wrist to the original position. Repeat this exercise 10 times.
Posture Enhancers
Exercises for wheelchair-bound patients can help improve and stabilize your posture by strengthening your postural muscles. Sit upright in your wheelchair. Lift both arms as if holding a tray at waist level, palms facing toward the ceiling. Keep your elbows at your sides. Gently and slowly pull your left elbow, then right elbow, back to squeeze your shoulder blades together. Keep your palms facing up at your sides. Hold this position 10 seconds. Relax for 10 seconds. Repeat this exercise five times.
Cramp Eliminator
Reduce your risks of getting leg cramps by doing an exercise for wheelchair-bound patients that stretches your calves. While sitting upright in your chair, place both feet firmly on the floor. Lift your right leg and point your toes toward your knee until you feel a stretch in your calf muscle. Hold this stretch 10 seconds. Return your leg to the original position. Relax 10 seconds. Repeat this exercise five times with each leg.
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