Staying healthy as a wheelchair user may look slightly different than it might for other people. To ensure that you achieve the best health possible and that you can minimize the possibility of enduring any medical complications or illnesses, here is a quick guide that can give you some top tips to boost your health even more than you already do.
Eat Well
Eating well is important when you are disabled, as it is for everyone. When you are a wheelchair user, it is important that you maintain a healthy weight and that you care for your physical and mental health. As a wheelchair user, you should look for foods that are high in fiber, as these can help you with your digestion and gut.
Not only this, but foods with lean protein can keep you energized and strong and can support your body in remaining strong and repairing itself; similarly, fruit and vegetables are filled with a rainbow of vitamins and minerals that can help you feel like yourself and protect your mental health. However, cooking can be harder when you are disabled, and so you might want to look into solutions that can make cooking easier for you.
Look at Home Adaptations
Sometimes, your home can be a place of hazard. You might find that you struggle to navigate it, especially if you have only recently become disabled. This can affect your mental health and independence, while increasing the risk of injury and stress-related conditions.
If this is the case, you should look at the potential for home adaptations. These include items such as home elevators. Home elevators can allow you to reach each floor of your abode without having to manage the stairs, enabling you to reach every corner without an issue.
Exercise
You might not be able to exercise in the same way as others. However, it is possible to enjoy a lot of exercise when you are a wheelchair user. For instance, you might look for wheelchair-based sports, such as wheelchair basketball, or you might study pool therapy, which can enable you to get out of your wheelchair and into the water. You might also look for exercises that have been designed to be performed from your wheelchair or when you have limited mobility. Some wheelchair users may also be able to perform specialist stretches.
Get the Right Wheelchair
Most importantly, it is vital that your wheelchair is right for you and that it is comfortable. This can reduce the chance of pressure sores and discomfort, as well as enabling you to navigate spaces more easily and when on your own.
This means that you should look around for a wheelchair that fits you well, that has a cozy and padded seat, and that has the right arm and footrests that you can reposition to suit you. You could also look for ergonomic options that can be more lightweight and can support you throughout the day, no matter where you are or what you are doing.
