Illnesses and accidents can affect an individual’s way of life and even leave them disabled and incapacitated. Fortunately, many bodily functions can be restored through medication, therapy, and exercise.
With research, experts have found a way to help people living with disabilities cope with the difficulty and challenges of daily life through exercise physiology. And with the assistance of an expert exercised physiologist, a disabled individual can follow a safe exercise program to foster their mobility and independence.
This post will discuss how exercise physiology can benefit people living with disabilities. So, if you want to learn more about the topic, stick to the end.
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What Is Exercise Physiology?
The body reacts to anything you subject it to, whether it’s medicine, stimulation, or physical activity. Exercise physiology is the study of how specific physical activities can affect the body positively. You might not know it, but your body undergoes physiological, biomechanical, and biochemical changes as you exercise. That’s why it’s important to apply activities that matter to your body so you don’t waste time and effort or potentially injure yourself.
Here are the ways it can benefit people living with disabilities:
1.Improved Physical Function
People who suffer from TBA or traumatic brain injury may experience weakness in a specific body part. This renders them incapable of lifting, walking, or even simple tasks like dressing themselves. A few minutes of movement can quickly tire them out.
Luckily, with resistance and flexibility training, they can gradually regain some functions to live independently.
2.Better Pain Management
Chronic pain can be something many people living with disabilities have to face regularly. If not managed correctly, this can lead to emotional and mental health issues. Thankfully, the pain can be addressed with proper exercise without synthetic medications.
The crucial thing here is understanding where the pain is coming from and how exercise can be appropriately applied to deal with this issue. For example, yoga or Pilates can help stretch muscles to prevent spasticity and reduce muscle tension, which could be the reason one is feeling pain.
Additionally, exercise releases endorphins, the body’s natural feel-good hormones, which can help reduce pain.
An expert exercise physiologist can provide a holistic pain management program.
3.Increased Strength
Spinal cord injuries and muscular dystrophy can cause muscle weakness and loss of muscle mass. But with the appropriate resistance training, one can address those issues.
Tools like resistance bands, weights, and appropriate exercises can target specific muscle groups and cater to these concerns. In time, you’ll notice that you don’t tire quickly and can accomplish more in a day. In addition, your body will look more toned and even, which can also positively impact your confidence and mental health.
4.Better Balance
With exercise, a disabled individual can strengthen their muscles, which promotes stability and balance. Although it may take time, regular practice can help somebody with mobility issues stand without assistance and transfer from one place to another or easily reach for items behind them or on the floor.
5.Reduced Risk Of Secondary Health Conditions
People with disabilities are at a higher risk of developing secondary health conditions such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, osteoporosis, depression, and obesity. But with regular physical activity and proper exercise, these can be avoided, and you can see a brighter and healthier future.
Exercise can improve heart and lung function, bone density, and mobility, as well as help manage weight.
As long as you work on specific concerns with your exercise physiologist, you can help avoid getting more illnesses on top of your disability.
6.Increased Overall Quality Of Life
You’ll notice that as you engage in regular physical activity, your mood is better, your stress levels are significantly reduced, and your confidence is through the roof. Moreover, you can gain new friends and acquaintances when participating in group activities.
These intangible benefits have an incredible effect on one’s mental and emotional health, eventually leading to physical well-being. These can also give one a sense of accomplishment and control and allow a semblance of normalcy, resulting in a better quality of life.
Conclusion
For many people, living with a disability can be the end of the road, but it doesn’t have to be that way. You can either wallow in self-pity or do something proactive about it, like engaging in regular exercise.
Exercise physiology has been proven to be beneficial for many people with disabilities. The ones mentioned here are just a few of them; with the help of a qualified and expert exercise physiologist, you can achieve more.
So, what are you waiting for? Book that session with your physiologist and begin reaping the many benefits of exercise.
