Disclaimer: Before beginning any exercise routine or program, first talk to your healthcare provider for proper guidance and safety precautions.

Living with limited mobility — whether temporary or chronic — is not an easy battle to fight. Increase the equation the fact that physical activity is crucial to any healthy lifestyle, and you might seem like you have a recipe for pain or failure. But that’s not always the case.

One common misconception about being active is that it’s restricted to those who have a full range of motion. If that were true, there’d be a lot less of a need for physical rehabilitation and almost no opportunity for parts of your muscles, joints and body to recover and grow stronger.

If injury, illness, disability or difficulties with weight have hindered your mobility, with a creative approach, you can get active and work out to boost your mood, relieve stress and increase your self esteem — PLUS, work your way slowly toward greater future mobility.

Small Strategies for Getting Active if You’re Living with Limited Mobility

It can be scary to embrace exercise if you’re coping with physical limitations. Will it hurt? Are you capable? Will it feel overwhelming to consider all the things you can’t do, even when you’re focusing on what you can perform? Don’t worry too much — these fears are typical. No matter what stage you’re in currently, here are a few simple measures you can decide to try gradually improve:

First, Talk with Your Healthcare Provider

Your physician and/or healthcare team has got the medical experience to help you enact proper safety measures. Collaborate with them to determine what your unique physical limitations are and what you are able to attempt, as well as build upon for future progress.

Identify Your Current Capabilities

As of this moment, what kinds of movement are you able to accomplish? What parts of the body are most affected by difficulties with mobility? While you’ll want to aim for well-rounded workouts, you may (or might not) want to pay special focus on these areas.

Work on Your Flexibility

Making flexibility training a part of your routine will help you to enhance your range of motion, prevent injury and lower pain. Start small and do that every day.

Look for Low-impact Workouts

You’re most likely not ready for a 7-mile hike or perhaps a fast-paced aerobics class. Instead, scout-out low impact exercises which are easier on your joints and body (swimming, light walking, etc).

Move The body Daily

When you make exercise a habit that you do every day (or most days), you’ll notice the body strengthen over time, gain endurance and possibly even crave more physical activity.

Vary Your Movements

If you’re not able to do much, you may still maximize your body’s potential. Try incorporating different movements focused on cardiovascular, strength and mobility benefits.

Improve Gradually with Time

One of the best things you can do is approach exercise one small step at any given time. Be gentle not only in your body, but your mental health too. By starting small, you can slowly discover what your body is capable of doing and then you can improve from there.

For basic information about getting started on your fitness journey, please CLICK HERE.