Sometimes, being in a wheelchair can bring about a set of health complications as movement is limited. As such, they may need to rely on things like stair lifts to improve their accessibility. However, being limited to a wheelchair may mean that they are unable to exercise regularly to keep fit. In order to stay healthy, there are some things wheelchair-users can be mindful about. Read on to find out more!

Taking Care of Your Diet

In today’s day and age, a lot of diseases and illnesses like diabetes and obesity stem from poor diets. As such, it is important to think through what you are putting into your bodies, especially for those who are wheelchair-bound and are unable to get much exercise. Although there are many different types of diet plans out there, there is no one size fit all solution. As much as possible, you should opt for food high in vitamins and fiber, and avoid junk food that has no nutritional value. You should also educate yourself on what types of food are healthy and can be included in your diet, and what types of food you should avoid. The golden rule is this- moderation is key.

Stretch Regularly

For those who are wheelchair-bound, sometimes your joints and muscles can feel stiff and sore. Stretching regularly can help loosen up your joints and relax your muscles. When you use a wheelchair, your body is seated in a fixed position for a prolonged period of time, thus putting strain and pressure on your joints and muscles. By stretching, you can get rid of any build-up of tension, bringing relief to your body.

Avoiding Pressure Ulcers

Pressure ulcers, also known as pressure sores can occur when someone sits in a wheelchair for a prolonged period of time. They can affect someone severely, leaving them bed-ridden for months. When not properly taken care of, the ulcer may become infected and this brings about a host of complications. One tip to remember to avoid pressure ulcers is to constantly change your seating position as much as you can. You can also look into getting pressure relieving cushions to sit on in order to relieve the build-up of pressure from sitting for prolonged periods of time.

Drink More Fluids

Drinking more fluids can increase brain function and help with your overall health. Fluids are also an essential part of your body and can help to speed up the recovery process. Hydrating your body and replenishing fluids boosts your body’s immunity, helping to keep your body healthy.

Physical Activity

It is still important to maintain some physical activity even if you are wheelchair-bound. For example, you can try to do some light activity like exercising with your arms and stretching different parts of your body. This way, you can keep the blood circulating in your body. Physical activity can also be beneficial to mental health, combatting things like anxiety and depression as feel good hormones are released.

If you are wheelchair-bound and find it difficult to access certain parts of your home, you can work with Freedom Stairlifts to install stair lifts in your home. This can help to enhance accessibility and make it easier to move around the house. At Freedom Stairlifts, we understand that being wheelchair-bound makes it a lot harder to move around. As such, we are committed to helping our clients enhance accessibility, thus improving their confidence and ease of moving about. Contact us to find our more today!