Cardio pole workouts are an excellent option for wheelchair users to incorporate cardiovascular exercise into their fitness routines. These workouts combine the benefits of cardio with the engagement of upper body muscles, offering a full-body workout while seated. The intensity of can be easily adjusted to suit individual fitness levels and goals. Using a heavier pole or wrist weights adds resistance, making the workout more challenging and helping you progress over time.
First, grab your pole about shoulder width apart and hold it down to your side with a twist in your back.
This is the starting position.
From here, rotate the pole diagonally up and across your body. Then drop the arms down. So your hands are on the opposite side. Then rotate the pole diagonally up and across your body. Drop the hands back down to the original position and repeat. Keep your arms extended as best you can throughout. Continue the exercise for the allotted time. You can increase difficulty by either using a heavier pole or using wrist weights.
If you have limited gripping ability try using the Active Hands Gripping aids to make this exercise as safe as possible.