Using a wheelchair doesn’t mean that you can’t be active. In fact, there are plenty of ways for you to keep fit, one of the most popular being sports. As well as the physical benefits, wheelchair sports are also a great way to relieve stress and tension, boost your body confidence and self-esteem, and hang out with friends. Although some games may be off the cards, most can easily be adapted to suit the disabled community. With that in mind, here are five that you could try out.
1. Horse Riding
Horse riding is a fun and therapeutic way to get a workout in, improve your posture and balance, and reduce muscle spasms. It can also give you a massive confidence boost, as learning to ride is far from easy. When you have some more experience, could even take things to the next level and start entering competitions. Carriage driving is also an option if riding doesn’t suit you well.
2. Basketball
Basketball is one of the most well-known wheelchair sports, with competitions and leagues all over the world. For this reason, there is likely a team somewhere near you to join, but, if not, you could always design some basketball uniforms and make one of your own. As a team sport, this activity encourages companionship and social interaction, which is vital for your mental health.
3. Sailing
Despite what many people assume, wheelchair sports aren’t contained to the solid ground alone. In fact, there are a number on the sea that you could consider. One of the most popular is sailing. This sport does require skill, knowledge, and the right equipment, but, once you have it, the rewards are never-ending. You’ll keep yourself fit, build lifelong friendships, and have lots of fun.
4. Fencing
Fencing originally involved two opponents riding horses and fighting each other with lances. While able-bodied fencing removes the horse completely, the adaptive sport replaces it with a wheelchair, making only minor rule changes. As long as you have quick reflexes and the necessary equipment, this increasingly competitive sport is definitely one to think about.
5. Softball
If you’re a fan of the traditional sport, softball may seem like one that is a little too hard to adapt. After all, you can’t push your chair when you’re wearing ball gloves and rolling on the grass isn’t the easiest of tasks. However, wheelchair softball manages to combat these issues, by playing on hard surfaces and allowing players to use bare hands. Most other rules are kept the same.
6. Skydiving
With sports on the water and the ground, the only other place you and your chair needs to venture is the air. Thankfully, there are sports that allow you to do this too. Tandem skydiving is always an option for any adrenaline junkies out there. While you will be secured to an instructor, you will have the power to pull the cord and control a lot of the process on the way down.
Using a wheelchair doesn’t mean that sports are off the cards. In fact, most of them can easily be adapted to your needs. If none of those above are of your liking, then there are plenty of others that you could consider.
This is a collaborative post.
