Having
a physical disability can feel extremely limiting to a person living with
paraplegia, cerebral palsy, or an amputation simply because it is automatically
more difficult for these individuals to perform “everyday” activities that
others find easy to do. Truth is, most people with disabilities can achieve anything
they believe they can.
If someone with a physical disability has a
loss in strength, cardiovascular endurance, and/or physical fitness, then those
activities can seem impossible to do on their own. This is why resistance
training and cardiovascular fitness is so important for people with physical
disabilities. According to researchers at the National Center for Health,
Physical Activity and Disability “When combined with the natural aging process,
the likelihood of becoming physically dependent on others for assistance with
daily activities substantially increases.” (Resistance Training, 2013). So, do I dare say that conserving physical,
mental, and social wellness is even more important with people with
disabilities? Where can a person with physical disabilities attain all of these
things? Answer: CrossFit.
CrossFit
is a fitness program that is designed around improving everyday functions,
while working out with your community or family. The movements are designed to
simulate real-life situations like picking up small children, reaching for a
heavy box off the top shelf, or carrying groceries up a flight of stairs. Each
WOD (workout of the day) gets all muscle groups firing rather than targeting
specific areas; it is a total body workout every time.
WODs are
typically performed in CrossFit Boxes, which are specifically designed for
their workouts. These gyms are normally in a garage-like metal building and
contain pull-up bars, barbells, kettle bells, ropes, etc. There are certain
times of the day that workouts are held with clients usually sticking with
their same time each day. People who are members of these boxes have described
them as being a “family atmosphere”. Having a physical disability can keep
people from going out of their house, much less going to the gym to work out in
front of a crowd of people. CrossFit is very accepting to modifying workouts to
those who are disabled. Groups of people
do the workouts together, cheering and pushing their fellow friends on.
While
any form of exercise is going to be beneficial to those who are physically
disabled, CrossFit is ideal because the workouts are functional movement-type
workouts and involve both strength training and cardiovascular training. CrossFit
is the ultimate activity for individuals with disabilities, who desire an
intense and challenging workout.
Crossfit workouts are very hard. I personally know because for about two months I used to do Crossfit with the Tarleton Rec Center. These workouts were full body exercises that were very challenging. I would love to see some examples of how Crossfit can be modified to someone that has a physical disability. I have personally seen some miracles of what people with physical disabilities can do. It is just amazing! I just know that Crossfit is one of the most challenging workouts I have ever had to do, so I am curious to see some modifications that can be done so that those people with disabilities can have these intense full body workouts that in the end will help their overall health. I like the fact that Crossfit can modify its workout to accommodate people with disabilities because from the outside eye it seems almost impossible for even a person without disabilities to do some of these challenging workouts.
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