Active Lifestyle? Don’t Forget to Stand!

When it comes to good health for people with spinal cord injuries there are several basic needs in my mind.  A good bathroom routine, daily mental stimulation and a good regimen of exercise, whatever that means to each individual, are a good start.  For me, a T-12 paraplegic, that means getting to the gym at least twice per week and supplementing my gym time with hand cycling, golfing, skiing, and whatever outdoor activities I can find.  But to make this all possible, stretching is what keeps me going.  If I didn’t keep my legs stretched and limber, they would tighten up into a bent knee position that is nearly impossible to get rid of.  And this would make my very active lifestyle a lot more difficult to manage.  If it wasn’t for my EasyStand, stretching might cost me a lot of time and money at the physical therapist’s office.  But now I can simply stand in my living room and watch TV or stand in my office while I am working.  And in addition to taking calcium supplements, I depend on standing to help strengthen my bone density as well so there is less chance of breaking any of my already brittle bones while I am out adventuring.  So I consider my EasyStand part of my daily routine in hopes of staying healthier longer.

What activities do you do to stay healthy? What are the most important steps to take in maintaining a healthy lifestyle?