[Active] Adaptive Exercise

The Importance of Adaptive Exercise

If you live with a physical disability, regular exercise and physical therapy is especially important. Physical activity can help you maintain and improve muscle strength, flexibility, and cardiovascular fitness, which are all important for maintaining overall health and independence. Exercise can help you prevent the development of secondary conditions such as obesity, osteoporosis, and pressure sores, which are common in people with physical disabilities.

Physical activity can also help you improve mobility, balance, and coordination, which can make it easier for you to perform daily activities such as dressing and getting around.

Adaptive Exercise - Dips

Using the Parallel Bars for Dips

Adaptive Exercise - Pallof Presses

Using the Resistance Bands for Core

The Evolution for Adaptive Exercise

Even though it's compact, the Evolution can accommodate most standard wheelchairs. It provides a sturdy frame that allows you to safely attach resistance bands to perform modified versions of exercises to suit your individual needs. And the parallel bars are a tool that can be used to help you find stability and assist in bone density & weight bearing exercise.

Its exercises are considered to be low impact and it has proven to be a great tool for those who are at risk of falling, have injuries, and suffer from other limitations.

The Evolution is a great option for adapted exercise and physical therapy, particularly for home users who can't easily access clinics and facilities.

Setting Up for Adaptive Exercise

While the Evolution wasn't specifically designed for adaptive exercise, it was designed to make exercise convenient, accessible, and inclusive, regardless of experience, skill, and ability. This means that setting up the Evolution is easy, for anyone. Here are a couple videos of Tammy Cunnington, ex-Paralympian, setting up the Evolution.

Setting Up Resistance Bands

Setting Up Parallel Bars

Regain Your Independence With the Evolution

According to the World Health Organization, over 1 Billion people live with some form of disability.

Having a disability does not mean that you are not healthy or that you can't be healthy. Just like anyone else, people with disabilities need access to equipment that help them to stay fit and healthy. Being healthy means the same thing for all of us - getting and staying well so we can lead full, active lives. However, to us, exercise for people with disabilities is even more important. To us, exercise promotes your independence and helps you perform the activities of daily life... by yourself!

The problem is that traditional equipment requires modification and “adapted” equipment is complex, expensive, and cumbersome and therefore not as inclusive as they were designed to be.

Given the simple, versatile, and low-impact nature of the Evolution, it is the perfect piece of equipment to help you exercise and promote your independence.

Read more about Disability and Exercise.

Anthony Lue - Using the Parallel Bars to Stand

Using the Parallel Bars to Stand

Anthony Lue - Using the Resistance Bands for Exercise

Using the Resistance Bands for Exercise

Our Champions for Adaptive Exercise

Tammy Cunnington - Paralympian - Adaptive Exercise

Tammy Cunnington, Paralympian

36 years ago Tammy was injured when a plane crashed at the Ponoka airshow. From near death at 6 years old to a Paralympian at 40, Tammy brings a message of perseverance, resilience and encouragement in her public speaking engagements. Tammy is a strong advocate for health, fitness and sport and volunteers to encourage others in this area by being an ambassador for Fast and Female, The Rick Hansen Foundation and working with the 2019 Canada Games.

To learn more about Tammy and her story, visit her website: tammycunnington.com

Anthony Lue - Aspiring Paralympian - Adaptive Exercise

Anthony Lue, Aspiring Paralympian

12 years ago, at the age of 21, Anthony’s life was suddenly and brutally changed forever. While at work, he was crushed in a car at a scrap metal yard. The accident resulting in Anthony losing it all – including the use of his legs. Before the accident, he had dreamed of competing for Canada in the Olympics in the 110 m hurdles. Anthony’s desire to compete continue to be his main motivation in life. Now, as a paraplegic, Anthony excels as an athlete, speaker and accessibility consultant.

To learn more about Anthony and his story, visit his website: anthonylue.com