Exercise, Sport and Recovery

Exercise and sport and recreational activities are a great way for people with spinal cord injuries to improve their overall general health, physical and psychological wellbeing, quality of life and can assist with their activities of daily living.  It can also provide a great social environment and is a great way to meet new friends.  

It is extremely important that prior to undertaking any exercise program or participating in any sport or recreational activity, that you receive clearance from your medical practitioner and consult an exercise physiologist or specialist to gain further information about specific exercise for your individual needs.

Programs and Activities

• Walk on is a program run by SCIA, which offers an individually designed intensive exercise program to assist a person with a spinal cord injury to maximise their functional recovery. Delivered by specially trained Walk On therapists, the program is based on the Dardzinski Method™, established at Project Walk® in the USA in 1999 and continuing today.  Walk On is currently available in Brisbane and Sydney. Read more
• If you live in Sydney there is an exercise program called Burn Rubber Burn for people with spinal cord injuries. The program is made available in NSW through the Police & Community Youth Clubs (PCYC) gyms. For more information contact Simone Robinson on 0402 776 868.
• Also based in Sydney is Wheelchair Sports NSW.  A wide range of wheelchair sporting events and programs for athletes of all ages and skill levels, in Sydney and across most of the state are supported and conducted by Wheelchair Sports NSW.
• Sailability  hosts social, recreational and competitive sailing activities for anyone with a disability. The small sail boats can be operated by an instructor and/or a passenger. Volunteers run 25 Sailability clubs in NSW.
• If you live in Brisbane the Sporting Wheelies and Disabled Association of Qld, where the Walk On program is located, also offers a range of health and fitness programs.  For further information visit the website www.sportingwheelies.org.au or call (07) 3253 3333.
• Take a look at www.physiotherapyexercises.com where you will find instructions on how to do various strengthening and range of motion exercises.  The manual is divided into sections targeted at different injury levels.  They are intended to be implemented in consultation with a physiotherapist to establish the best regime for you.
• Australian Athletes with a Disability is responsible for the administration of the Australian Sports Organisation for the Disabled (ASOD), Cerebral Palsy Sports and Recreation Federation of Australia (CPASRF) and Wheelchair Sports Australia (WSA). All three organisations are responsible for the development of sport for athletes with a disability and administer, promote and coordinate sporting opportunities.
• Disabled WinterSport Australia (DWA) is a multi-faceted, self-help sporting organisation founded in 1978 by Australia's first Paralympic skier Ron Finneran and Canadian instructor Bruce Abel. The purpose of DWA is to provide opportunities for people with disabilities to enjoy winter sports and to enjoy the magnificent environment that is Australia's Snowy Mountains with fellow skiers.
• Disabled Surfers Association of Australia has seven volunteer branches in NSW that hold regular surf days for people with any disability.
• Many public and private swimming pools have a chair hoist and/or ramp to enable easy access into the water. Beach wheelchairs can be hired at some beaches and surf life saving clubs. Check council websites for availability.
• The 12 AMF  tenpin bowling centres in NSW have ball ramps available for public use.
• Riding for the Disabled  provides suitable horses, trained volunteers, accredited coaches and equipment for a range of equestrian activities: riding classes, games, vaulting, dressage and equestrian camps.
• For information about other sports see d-Ability.

Other Recreational/Social Activities

Accessible Arts—promotes full inclusion, access and cultural opportunities in the arts for people with disabilities through advocacy, education and information.

Active Places—web portal and search engine for recreation, sport and cultural activities for people with a disability.

NICAN—information on recreation, tourism, sport and the arts for people with disabilities. 

 
Hiring or buying exercise equipment

Achievable Concepts sell a range of adaptive equipment for sports including swimming, golf, fishing and snow skiing.

The Independent Living Centre product databases list sports and recreation equipment suppliers.

Technical Aid to the Disabled will manufacture custom designed equipment.

Further Reading

• Roberts, Kate; Kathy Stiller and George Dunstan, An evaluation of patients' satisfaction with a physical education service at a rehabilitation centre: a quality activity.
• Read the Sport and Recreation section of SCIA's Back on Track publication.

For more information on this topic please contact SCInfo or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , or discuss in the Exercise & Rehab section of our Forum.