Making Justice
Work For You

Image of attorneys at Duke & Heath Attorneys at Law

Physical activity can benefit spinal cord injury patients

On Behalf of | Jan 23, 2020 | Personal Injury

A person who suffers from a spinal cord injury faces a lot of life changes. One thing that they shouldn’t assume is that they have to live a sedentary life. Even when you have a spinal cord injury, you can get active. This can benefit you in many areas of your life.

Sometimes, people will think that they can’t do much because of their limitations. This is not the case, so you should find ways to enjoy physical activities to reap the benefits, some of which include:

Improved bodily functions

Exercise can improve your bodily functions. While this might not necessarily help in areas that are impacted by a complete injury, it can help with things like bowel and bladder function. It can also help to prevent some conditions, such as respiratory disease, infections, heart disease and diabetes.

Enhanced moods

Natural chemicals released by the brain during exercise can be beneficial. These can elevate your mood and help you to avoid sadness and negativity. Having a positive attitude is another benefit when you exercise. You might also find that you aren’t as fatigued, and the extra energy can enable you to enjoy your life more.

Better social interactions

You will likely find friends when you’re doing the activities you enjoy. This is a bonus because some of your old friends might not come around as often now. Finding people to share in activities you enjoy can help you to socialize more. This can keep you motivated, and it might encourage you to get out and enjoy the world more.

Increased quality of life

The key to staying active is finding activities you enjoy. These might have to change from the ones you did when you were fully able-bodied. However, you will likely find that once you realize what activities you enjoy, your life will improve greatly.

Before you start doing a physical fitness program, make sure that you talk to your doctor. You might need special accommodations, such as a heart rate monitor or frequent temperature checks, to help you remain safe as you engage in activities.

Sometimes, adaptive equipment is costly. For injured parties who were harmed in an accident that was someone else’s fault, seeking compensation based on that negligence might be possible. Compensation could help to cover the expenses related to the injury, including the equipment that could make it easier for you to get active.

FindLaw Network
Image of attorneys Desiree Duke and Timothy Heath