One of the things I am often asked is a question similar to this: “I am disabled and it makes it difficult for me to get in shape and lose weight. Do you have any suggestions on what kind of exercises I can do?”

This is an excellent question, because many people cannot always participate in the obvious choices such as walking, running, or cycling as most exercise programs suggest. Fortunately, there are still many ways to get in shape even if you are unable to do some of these activities. Many people who are wheelchair bound or rely on the use of stairlifts can still find ways to be active that can help promote better health.

The first thing to do if you haven’t done so already is to check with your physician or physical therapist to see what recommendations they may have to make. Many physical therapy centers offer special instructional classes and programs to help you exercise more comfortably and safely. Your doctor will understand the scope of your illness or disability and be able to determine what activities can be done safely without putting any risk to your health.

Wheelchair users can often benefit from doing exercise that works out their upper body to improve strength, cardiovascular health, and endurance. NCPAD, the National Center on Physical Activity and Disability, wrote an interesting article about how the rise of motorized wheel chairs may be linked to obesity for some who do not exercise regularly. If your doctor approves, using a manual chair three times a week for 30 minutes or signing up for wheelchair team sports may be excellent ways to help reduce your risk for weight related diseases such as heart disease or diabetes.

Arthritis or knee injuries are other conditions that can make many exercises and activities painful or difficult. Swimming and water therapy may be excellent choices for you in this case, as they help displace the weight from your joints – you can also rely on the use of flotation devices and still workout your arms and upper body.

There are also many DVDs and videos that you can try to do in the comfort and privacy of your own home. Sit & Be Fit is just one of the many popular programs that incorporates exercises that are all done while sitting.

It’s important to remember that neither exercise or diet alone can help you lose weight. In order to live a healthier lifestyle you need to combine both a healthy diet full of a variety of foods from all of the food groups and make sure you get at least 3 sessions of 30 minute activity where you increase your heart rate. While it may seem like it takes forever or you may not see instant results, you will likely see a great improvement over several weeks not only in your weight, but also how you feel.

Do you have a disability? What types of exercises do you find to be the most beneficial?