Seniors who are confined to wheelchairs or who use wheelchairs throughout the day for added mobility can benefit from doing wheelchair exercises. Doing exercises promotes that person’s wellness and keeps his or her limbs moving and functional. In fact, many exercise instructors who work with senior populations instruct their clients who are in wheelchairs to do arm stretches and arm lifts. Moving their arms above their heads and across their chests stretches the muscles in the forearms and biceps.This/tag helps explain it more. It keeps blood moving in the arms and helps keep arthritis and other conditions at bay.
Seniors who can move their legs are also sometimes instructed to do leg lifts. While sitting in their chairs, seniors can extend their leg at the knee and bring it level with the chair. They can alternate each leg and move their calves and their knees to improve their flexibility and their muscle endurance. Exercise instructors sometimes have clients flex their feet during leg lifting. Flexing the feet also keeps blood moving through the ankle and lower leg. It keeps the ankle joint flexible and promotes strength in that part of the body. Flexing the feet and the legs also can improve a person’s balance.