Any ideas for cardio workouts for wheelchair users?

[CBrownlee657]

Okay, so after educating myself I have discovered that I need to incorporate cardio into my transformation plan. Currently I do weight training on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, so I'm thinking of fitting in cardio workouts on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

The issue is that I have a complete spinal cord injury at T2 (basically I am totally paralysed from my nipples down), so I feel somewhat limited to the vast array of cardio equipment out there to by.

I've tried simply wheeling around the block but my spasms get so bad from the bumpy ground that I would end up flying out of my chair more often than I would like to.

Does anyone have any ideas on what the best solution for me could be? Any equipment they may have come across that focuses on using the upper body to burn fat? Any home exercises that don't rely on any part of the body below the chest?

I'm at my wits end here and any advice would be greatly appreciated!

[anonymous]

you could set one of these on your lap

[Serpentarius]

I was going to link or explain what i was going to suggest but its easier to see for yourself if you google "arm cardio pedals" to get an idea visually, better.
There is also a machine, i do not know what its called, but its probably upwards of 1000 USD, that is a rope pulldown machine



that is probably cost prohibitive because its a well built machine and the size of it.
As far as any other type of equipment i cannot recommend anything else except some type of rowing machine but do not know if you can pull back as it uses the latissimus dorsi.

Lord bless you forever and ever.

[dmacdonal9]

Can you swim with a flotation device attached to your lower body?

[Znik]

you could set one of these on your lap

^ That is probably the most valid option in terms of availability and cost.

The magnetic mini-bikes can usually be found fairly cheap ~60$ and if you remove the foot straps you can just put em on a table or whatever and pedal away with your hands.

[CBrownlee657]

Thank you all for your responses. I'll take them all into consideration. Keep up the amazing work guys!

[rleatfitness]

intervals using an arm bike would probably be a good option so for example 20 seconds of max effort 10 seconds of rest/low speed

[Rich1143]

Good luck, OP!

[EjnarKolinkar]

I had to use a stationary arm bike in shoulder rehab every session for 10 min. You can get some work done on them. You could add it to the end of a weight session too. Barbell complexes have had some popularity as a way to burn some calories, no reason you can't use dumbbells or kettlebells either. If you can find a way to be active that fits with your life, and does not interfere to much with any weight training goals, that is the main thing. Bands are another option in addition to weights. Quite a few bands on the market and attachment point and handle options.

that is probably cost prohibitive because its a well built machine and the size of it.

I took a physical test for a fire department years ago and one of the props was just a rope and a pulley with a weight on the end of it. You had to pull the weight up and lower it down. Seems like something could possibly be investigated as it might be made relatively cheaply if there was an area that was available.


Some gyms also have concept 2 skier machines. They make a kit which makes the ropes longer for use in a wheelchair. http://www.concept2.com/skierg/adapt...dapting-skierg

skier

http://www.concept2.com/skierg/training/technique-video