Like any person, wheelchair users can benefit greatly from stretching if done regularly. Whether it's relieving cramps and muscle aches or improving your physical abilities, stretching plays a vital role in ensuring optimal health conditions for a long time.
Various studies have shown that there are many benefits to stretching. For example, it can help improve your elasticity and, consequently, better movement of the joints. More elasticity means improving your physical activity and decreasing the risk of injury by increasing the blood flow to the muscles.
Goodbye muscle aches
Stretch before doing any physical exercise, you can do it by pushing your manual wheelchair, since it is an activity you do regularly: you can overcome yourself and any muscle strains. Pushing constantly is a repetitive and laborious movement.
Stretching is part of any person's training. Be careful not to strain too much, you must ask your body only for the exercises you are able to do. A great advantage of stretching is to prevent any muscle injuries.
Stronger joints
Stretching is a great help for the joints. You will start your day already warmed up and ready for your daily tasks, the first is to push your wheelchair.
Regardless of the type of disability and level of mobility, stretching 5-10 minutes before starting the day can help your joints stay protected for longer. If you are unable to stretch, a family member or health care professional can help you with your exercises and better prepare your body for the day.
Improve your physical abilities ...
Stretching is a form of exercise, which will improve your physical abilities. Practicing stretching regularly can improve your responsiveness when you ask your body for more effort. For example, if you have to tackle a demanding climb, you will find that you are not so fatigued (if we are talking about muscle fatigue).
… And blood circulation
Scientific studies have shown that stretching helps improve blood circulation, as it's not just the muscles and joints that feel the benefits of stretching. This is especially important for wheelchair users, blood flow and veins will get a little boost. Stretching helps you decrease the risk of pressure sores in areas of the skin that are subject to increased pressure.
Don't stay seated all the time
Wheelchair users very often overlook one detail: our body is not designed to sit constantly for long periods of time.
Try to regularly do some stretching that you can do while sitting in the wheelchair and take it one step further. By fully stretching on a bed, your torso and legs must be stretched to their maximum capacity. If you are constant you will find benefits to relieve the parts of the body that are under greater pressure every day.
Get over the stress
Since stretching allows you to improve blood flow throughout the body, including the brain, it results in a calmer and more peaceful mindset. You will have more energy and liveliness!
When overwhelmed, the muscles contract as a defensive strategy. The longer you stretch, the less tense your muscles will be. So stretching is a way to deal with stress too.
Why not combine stretching with a little yoga? When you need to practice yoga depends on your body flexibility and physical limitations, but as with anything, they can be adapted to best suit your personal needs.
Practicing different types of yoga can help you fight the stress of everyday life. Like stretching or exercise, practicing yoga is also beneficial for the mind and body. Any business will have a knock-on benefit in your life.
Before you start stretching, make sure you do it correctly. Always consult professionals, a doctor or a physiotherapist to do it correctly.