Wheelchair Accessible Gyms

Robert Ghahremani (27) was left paralysed from his armpits down with a spinal cord injury after a car crash as a baby.

He was bullied at school because of his wheelchair and disability but didn’t let that stand in his way. He noticed that the stronger he became from a young age, the more independent he became.”

Robert started training in gyms at 16 but struggled because there was a lack of knowledge and understanding. Persistence paid off and he now wants to give the message that if someone finds themselves newly injured it’s not the end, it’s just the beginning. He wants to Change people’s attitudes towards disabled people.

Robert is now a personal trainer.

Follow the link below to see Roberts story:

https://www.bbc.com/news/av/uk-england-nottinghamshire-46625802/paraplegic-personal-trainer-wants-more-inclusive-gyms?fbclid=IwAR1LA5ZU2lJk62wMneQvIk8ujh9-tFXtkQMSQPNKofx7TBLODstjkULUuH4

Regular physical activity is good for physical and mental wellbeing and can be a great way to meet new people. As a wheelchair user, getting active brings important health benefits.

For general health, all adults aged 19 to 64, including wheelchair users, are advised to do – at least 150 minutes a week of aerobic activity, plus strength exercises on two or more days a week.

These are only recommendations and, it is important to explore and find an exercise that you enjoy. Whatever your level of physical ability there are activities you can do to improve fitness.

There’s a range of options available for taking cardiovascular exercise in a wheelchair. The aim is to raise your heart rate and be warm enough to break a sweat. If you’re not used to exercising its important to get advice and start off with short light sessions. Swimming, sitting exercises, wheelchair workout, wheelchair sprinting – in a studio or at a track, using a rowing machine adapted for wheelchair use, wheelchair sports such as basketball, netball and badminton

When it comes to muscle-strengthening exercise, you should pay special attention to certain muscle groups. The repeated pushing motion used to push a wheelchair means that the chest and shoulder muscles can become tight and prone to injury. Meanwhile, the back muscles, which are not involved in this pushing motion, can become weaker because they are never worked.

Because of this, it’s a good idea to focus on exercises that work the smaller muscles that support the pushing motion, such as the shoulder muscles. This can help prevent injury. You can also strengthen the back muscles by doing exercises that involve a pulling motion, such as a pull-up.

Gyms with equipment adapted for wheelchair users are a great place to do muscle-strengthening activities.

We believe everyone should have an opportunity to enjoy a fitness workout in a fully accessible and inclusive environment.