| Scientific research has shown that exercise is good | | | | born with physical disabilities or who suffered severe |
| for our health and through research it has also been | | | | debilitating injuries and yet never gave up on |
| discovered that a person's overall health is not just | | | | themselves, such as Stephen Hawking or Christopher |
| linked to the physical fitness of our bodies but is also | | | | Reeve. These inspirational people, young and old have |
| linked to our emotional and spiritual fitness as well. | | | | changed the way physical disabilities and those coping |
| Exercise can improve and sustain all three of the | | | | with them are viewed today. |
| areas involved in overall health: the health of the body, | | | | Although some do not have the use of their legs they |
| mind, and inner spirit. | | | | permit a physical therapist to move the legs through |
| Exercise can provide the benefits for overall health to | | | | several exercises to prevent atrophy and |
| everyone, regardless of the limitations a person may | | | | disfigurement. They also concentrate on building upper |
| have due to age, morbid obesity, or physical disabilities. | | | | body strength which allows them more independence |
| There are exercise programs that have been | | | | to get out of bed and into a wheelchair or standing |
| developed specifically for older adults as well as | | | | chair and the ability and independence to enjoy life. |
| programs that can help those who are severely | | | | Others whose physical disability involves the upper |
| overweight to begin exercising to lose that excess | | | | body concentrate on strengthening the lower body to |
| weight and become fit and healthy. Modified exercise | | | | gain more independence. You will find these confident, |
| programs for the physically disabled are especially | | | | independent, and awe inspiring people attending college, |
| important in the prevention of muscle atrophy and | | | | working in an office or running a business, and even |
| further physical disability and also for the emotional well | | | | competing in professional level sports for the physically |
| being of those facing sudden and long term physical | | | | challenged like basketball, track and field because of |
| disabilities. | | | | the independence gained through exercise. |
| Fear, sadness, anger, and a feeling of helplessness are | | | | Anyone can become overwhelmed by negative |
| understandable when someone experiences a serious | | | | emotions whether they have a physical disability or not. |
| injury or illness that causes a physical disability. When | | | | Exercise acts as a counterweight to those negative |
| your world has suddenly been changed by an accident | | | | emotions before they can become life altering; it also |
| or a life altering illness and may never be quite the | | | | causes the body to produce natural chemicals that |
| same as it was before, creating a new life that is | | | | regulate the emotions, as well as positive feelings. |
| limited in some way can be very challenging. | | | | Exercise can also help you get in touch with your inner |
| However, that does not mean that good things will | | | | self for a more fulfilling life. |
| never happen for you again or that you should give up | | | | Remember that emotional and inner spiritual health are |
| on life. You are not powerless, even though you may | | | | just as important as the highest degree of physical |
| have initially felt as if you were when you were injured | | | | fitness you can achieve, despite any sort of mental or |
| or became ill. You must take charge of your health | | | | physical disability. Those of us who are not faced with |
| and that begins with finding a knowledgeable fitness | | | | a physical disability should take a lesson from those |
| trainer who can help modify any number of exercises | | | | who are and find ways to exercise for better overall |
| to be included in your daily fitness program. | | | | health, adopting "never give up" attitudes and |
| If you need a little inspiration to get you started on | | | | accomplishing more than a good number of physically |
| taking control of your health, consider those who were | | | | able people ever do. |