3 exercises I can do from my wheelchair, and why I do them
How I care for my voice, stamina, and flexibility as someone with SMA
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When people think about exercise, they often picture movement that is visible, measurable, and easy to quantify, such as miles walked or weight lifted. But for people with SMA, staying fit can look very different.
We can do quite a lot, actually! From swimming to horseback riding, soccer, and weight lifting, there’s a whole spectrum of adaptive physical activities available to us. And we could easily spend all of our time, energy, and money trying to maximize our physical health.
We’re all different, though — different types of SMA, different stages of life, different body shapes, and different priorities — so we choose different ways to exercise and care for our bodies.
How I exercise
My favorite form of exercise is singing. I’ve been singing since I was a little girl in church, school choirs, and my college glee club. (It wasn’t until my sister-in-law’s birthday party two years ago that I finally tried karaoke, but now I love that, too!) These days, I don’t perform publicly as often, but I still try to weave it into my daily routine. I sing along with my Spotify playlists in the shower, in the car, or on my back porch, belting it out as loudly and proudly as I can.
It’s good for my soul, first of all. But it’s also good for my body. I’ve had enough voice training to know that controlled breathing and vocal range exercises strengthen the throat, neck, lungs, and diaphragm. And I notice that when I sing in the morning, my voice is clearer and stronger throughout the day.
During the warmer, drier, and sunnier months, I also love going for walks. (I know that sounds ironic, considering I cannot actually walk, but trust me, it is weirder to try to use an alternative word like “roll” or “ride.”) My neighborhood boasts an impressive 15 miles of well-maintained sidewalks, and I’ve explored them all. Now I have a few favorite routes of varying lengths that I traverse every chance I get.
Even though I’m not burning calories the way someone counting their steps might, a real workout is still happening! I’m building stamina, stabilizing my core balance, and strengthening my driving hand, wrist, and arm.
Another exercise I do regularly involves a pullup bar on my doorframe. No, I do not do actual pullups, but my dad attached resistance bands to the bar. I use them to suspend my elbows and move my arms freely through stretches, twists, and pulldowns. It gives me a level of mobility that I can’t enjoy when my arms are resting at my sides in my wheelchair. It seems to help with my overall circulation, flexibility, and balance, too.
Exercising can sometimes feel pointless. After all, I have a muscle-weakening disease, so I will never be a mighty athlete, no matter how disciplined I am. But I know that intentional breathing, stretching, and movement are good for me, and I know they make a difference because, when I don’t do these things, I feel the negative effects. My voice, stamina, and flexibility are important to me, so I will keep doing all I can to care for them.
What are three things you most want to improve or maintain about your health? And how might you build simple, creative, and enjoyable habits around those things this summer? It may take some trial and error to find what works, but once you do, you’ll be surprised at the difference it makes!
Note: SMA News Today is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of SMA News Today or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to spinal muscular atrophy.
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