Spinal cord exercise
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Physical activity is a necessity — for everyone. And while most of us set goals of weight loss or a finely toned physique, for some — increasing your ability to lift even ounces is a major success.
Like any gym, workouts here are meant to boost fitness. But a closer look at the machines offers insight to the patrons who frequent it. They all have some form of spinal cord injury.
Kathleen Martin-Ginis is with McMaster University: “After spinal cord injury people lose a lot of muscle mass just simply as a result of paralysis. And giving people the opportunity to exercise can help them to regain that muscle mass and to maximize the remaining function that they have after the injury.”
This is home to the Mac Wheelers. A gym built for the injured. Because no two spinal cord injuries are alike, each client gets an assessment, a student volunteer and a specially designed program based on their function. Theresa Clark is living with multiple sclerosis: “My goal is to not get any worse. My goal is to keep my flexibility, get my muscles moving.”
Kathleen Martin-Ginis says it’s a common misconception that people come here in order to walk. The truth is, like all of us, they need to stay fit. “We know that people with spinal cord injury are just as susceptible to the chronic diseases prevalent to able bodied. Obesity, diabetes, heart disease. In fact, they’re even more susceptible given that they spend much of their time sitting.”
And it’s not an assumption. Three-years ago, McMaster unveiled the first evidence based physical activity guidelines for people with spinal cord injury — 20-minutes of aerobic exercise twice a week as well as two weekly sessions of strength training. Kathleen says: “We do know — and we’ve seen it in this gym — that by following that prescription, people can increase their strength and aerobic endurance.”
Elias Tannous has seen it himself. A botched back surgery put him in a wheelchair 2-years ago. He’s been with the Mac Wheelers since June: “Ya I did get improvement in my legs. My upper body is ok. But I have to keep it in shape.”
And even a small improvement can be a major difference Kathleen says: “Just being able to strengthen the amount of weight you can life by a couple of ounces. To suddenly be able to do this — this changes your independence. You can feed yourself. You can groom yourself.”
And for anyone, the end of a workout brings a sense of satisfaction says Theresa: “It really gives you a good feeling to know you’re doing something for yourself.”
The Mac Wheelers program is open to anyone with a spinal cord injury or other neurological impairment.
