Can you give me the dimensions for the sports wheelchairs used by paralympians?  I understand some of them might be too wide for entrances to buildings, restaurants etc.  I am the guest with disabilities coordinator at General Motors Place and would like to know if our entrances are accessible by these wider wheelchairs.

Almira

Answer:

We contacted Sportaid, which sells sports wheelchairs, to find out a typical width. They gave us 41-inches as a typical example. Keep in mind, though, that there is no established specs, and different manufacturers will have different widths.

Question:

I am a wheelchair user and I need to lose some weight and tone up. I have good upper body strength, but not much lower body strength. It seems every machine at the gym is geared to those who stand on 2 feet. Do you have any suggestions on how I can get fit?

Suzanne

Answer:

Don't let a gym with non-specialized equipment deter you from working out. If you have upper body mobility, do free body exercises for your upper body (such as lifting and holding your arms straight out in front of you and to your sides). Once you get stronger you can use free weight upper body exercises with dumbbells and resistance tubes (such as bicep curls, shoulder presses and lateral raises). Performing a variety of circuit training exercises and sets of 15 to 20 reps with only 10-seconds in between each exercise promotes weight loss.

There are safety hazards at the gym, regardless of wheelchair use. Make sure to keep the following gym safety in mind:

• Get the ok from your doctor or physiotherapist before beginning a program.
• Warm up for between 5- and 15- minutes before each workout.
• Familiarize yourself with proper form before attempting any exercise.
• Stabilize your wheelchair by locking the brakes before you begin weight lifting.
• Clear the surrounding area of any loose equipment.
• Try to maintain good posture when lifting weights.
• When pulling yourself towards a machine or when using it to stretch your arms, grab only onto fixed parts.
• Always stretch out after finishing a workout to avoid injury.

If you don't like the idea of a gym you can also get in a workout outside by joining an organized sports team. Wheelchair sports are played in almost every available sport such as basketball, hockey, tennis, rugby, soccer, etc. Try contacting your local wheelchair sports association or physiotherapy association to find leagues near you. Another option, if you don't like the gym, is aerobics videos. There are exercise videos specific to wheelchair users and some that can be adapted for anyone. Jodi Stolove's Chair Dancing offers an alternative to the same old boring cardio routine. If you want to perform aerobics you will need to have some motor control in your upper body.

If you have the money to invest, you can also buy a piece of home gym equipment. Search online for specialized exercise equipment to find adapted strength training machines and cardio machines such as hand-cyclers.

Question: I am an international badminton player who used to borrow wheelchairs to play in badminton tournaments. When I got to Germany last year, I was examined and told that I needed a wheelchair. I would like to know the total cost for a manufactured wheelchair that is specially made for me. ~J.A. Folawiyo

Answer: Custom-built sports wheelchairs are not usually covered by medical insurance and tend to be quite expensive, ranging from $2,000 and up to $8,000.

Please read our page devoted to sports wheelchairs for some valuable information about how many athletes opt to use lightweight chairs for both sport and everyday use.

Question: Someone told me about a wheelchair with a swivel seat which allows for a decent swing and safe mobility on a golf course. Do you know of anything like this ~Mary

Answer: Wheelchair athletes are participating in just about every sport imaginable these days and golf is no exception. There are some wheelchairs on the market that have swivel seats built into them. Some manufacturers such as Jazzy make a wheelchair that features a fully adjustable 90-degree swivel seat and multiple footrest options. There are also many power scooters on the market that have swivel chairs with some of them being able to turn 360-degrees. You should check with your local wheelchair dealer or supplier to see if he can help you locate one that suits your needs.

Question: I am in the market for a new chair. I once met a competitive racer whose personal chair was compact, lightweight and rigid. The best thing about the chair was that it didn't require much effort to move the wheels. Is there anything specific I should be looking for to insure this capability? ~Riff

Answer: There are many lightweight, rigid models wheelchairs on the market and one of these models may suit you the best. Many wheelchair athletes are using this type of wheelchair in their competitions because of the chair's quickness and maneuverability. Many people are also using sport wheelchairs for their everyday use. Sport wheelchairs are generally made of aluminum and they are lightweight and easy to propel. The best thing to do would be to try out a few wheelchairs to see which one suits you the best. If you let your wheelchair dealer know what you are looking for you should have no problem finding one that fulfills your needs.