Can people with disabilities receive aerobic benefits from exercise?

"Aerobic exercise" has been clinically defined in most medical circles as exercise that raises the heart rate to a traditionally calculated level for at least 20 minutes, and floods your body with oxygen. Due to changes in neurological function, many folks with spinal cord injury and some other disabilities will not be able to raise their heart rate to "traditional levels." Some health professionals are skeptical and currently believe, because elevations in heart rate to traditional levels cannot be achieved by some people with disabilities, that these people cannot receive aerobic benefits. Other professionals believe that people with disabilities can get aerobic benefits, and that the traditional formula simply needs adjustment for defining their aerobic heart range. A third group of people, those with disabilities who routinely do aerobic exercise, will usually cite how good they feel after each workout. They will also tell you that if they did not feel the positive difference that aerobic exercise provides them, they would quickly lose interest in their aerobic workouts. Makes sense, doesn't it? People with disabilities who routinely exercise cite experiencing both immediate effects that occur during workouts, as well as prolonged effects to their daily lifestyle between workouts. While these experiences certainly vary among people, the most frequently cited observations are listed here.

• During exercise, most experience some level of increase in heart rate and blood pressure.
• During exercise, their breathing rate and volume increases, and after exercise their breathing is easier.
• They claim to have more energy and stamina to get through their busy day.
• The muscles they use during workouts increase in size and strength.
• They notice a gradual weight loss when the fat-burning aerobic exercise is combined with healthy, routine eating habits.
• Those people with low blood pressure often cite the positive effects of a seeming increase in pressure.
• They often experience clearer thinking, because the circulatory system (heart, lungs, and blood vessels) gets stronger and the body routinely pumps more oxygen to the brain.
• Overall, they cite feeling better physically and psychologically

So can people with physical disabilities receive aerobic benefits from exercise?

Try it and decide for yourself.