WHEELCHAIR EXERCISES FOR FLEXIBILITY

Step 1
Direct the person to extend her arms in front of her, palms down, and point the fingers of her right hand toward the ceiling. Show her how to use her left hand to pull back gently on the fingers to stretch the hand and wrist. Switch hands and repeat the stretch on the left side.


Step 2
Extend your arms in front of you with your palms turned down and encourage the exerciser to copy your movements. Bend your right arm at the wrist, pulling it down gently with the left hand. Rotate the hand clockwise and counterclockwise. Repeat with the left hand.
Step 3
Ask the person to cross his right leg over the left. If this is not possible, the exercise can be completed with the leg extended slightly forward. Slowly rotate the foot in large circular motions clockwise and counterclockwise. Repeat with the left leg/foot.
Step 4
Sit up straight and bend the head forward. Return the head to neutral position and turn it to the left and then right. Return to the neutral position again and rotate the head in small circles, clockwise and counterclockwise.
Step 5
Direct the elder to lift her arms up, extending her fingers toward the ceiling. Return the arms to a neutral position and bend them at the elbow and then extend the elbows to the back. Blend the two actions together into a series of smooth movements and repeat.
Wheelchair Exercises for Strength
Step 1
Extend the arms in front with the palms facing down. Curl the fingers of both hands down into a fist, squeeze and release. Rotate the palms so they face upwards and repeat the actions to keep hands strong.
Step 2
Ask the person to extend his arms straight out from his sides. Show him how to bend his elbows and reach his hands toward his shoulders, touching the shoulders his with fingertips.Lower the arms and repeat to strengthen the muscles in the upper arm.
Step 3
Direct the person to sit up straight in her wheelchair and extend the right leg so it is parallel to the ground. Lower the leg and repeat to tone thigh muscles. Repeat with the left leg.
Wheelchair Exercises for Endurance
Step 1
Instruct the elder to perform leg lifts at a rate rapid enough to raise the heart rate to the recommended level.
Step 2
Show the person how to perform shoulder touches at a rate that is fast enough to safely raise the heart rate.
Step 3
Position the exerciser's wheelchair in front of an arm-bicycling machine -- a pedaling device designed to sit on a table top and be pushed by the hands. Have them rotate the pedals at a speedy rate to increase the heart rate to the desired level.

Tweet