Roll Mobility Blog
Using a Pedal Exerciser
A pedal exerciser offers an easy way to exercise comfortably at home.
A pedal exerciser offers the convenience of exercising in the comfort of your own home while you read, listen to the news, or watch television. This non-impact form of aerobics is gentle on your body, which makes it ideal for seniors and rehabilitation patients.
Leg Exercises
Pedaling with your legs mimics the action of riding a bicycle but without the need for the level of balance needed to stay upright on a bike. To use the pedal exerciser, simply set it up in front of a chair and then start pedaling away. Adjust the intensity of your workout by tightening or loosening the tension knob for greater or less resistance.
Arm Exercises
Besides strengthening your legs, the pedal exerciser can also be used to work the muscles in your arms and upper body. Rowing with your arms instead of your legs gives you variety and works a greater number of muscles.
When pedaling with your arms, make sure to use proper posture by keeping your back straight. Improper use can strain your lower back or other muscles.
Workout Intensity
You can increase the difficulty of these exercises by adjusting the tension knob. Tighten the knob for more resistance and a harder workout. Loosen the knob for less resistance. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions to adjust the tension. On some models, you may need to turn the knob clockwise to tighten the knob and increase resistance. Other models may be marked “high” and “low”; turn the knob to the appropriate level of resistance for your desired workout.
Exercise Tips
Start slowly and build up your exercise time and level of resistance gradually. Pushing your body beyond its limits can lead to excessive soreness or injury. Be patient while your muscles build endurance and strength over time. The key to a successful exercise program is to be consistent. Your doctor or health care professional can help you customize your exercise program to fit your needs and abilities.
New! Roll Mobility Wheelchair Cushion
This wheelchair cushion provides comfort and support.
New from Roll Mobility! The 3″ thick Wheelchair Cushion from Roll gives you just the extra support and padding you need to be comfortable in your wheelchair all day long. The medium density foam provides a balance of softness and durability for long service life. The foam is firm enough to retain its shape over time but soft enough for comfortable seating.
The moisture-resistant cover is removable for easy cleaning, and the vinyl bottom is anti-slip to keep the cushion in place. This wheelchair cushion fits wheelchair or transport chair seats that are 18 inches wide by 16 inches deep.
For more information, see the Roll Mobility wheelchair cushion product page.
Folding Wheelchair Reviews
"Great product, and the best part is that it took me like a minute to put it together." - Darling P.
GT Aluminum Wheelchair
“Only had to remove packing materials, slide on the foot supports and the chair was ready to roll—chair is easy to push and maneuvers easily. The fabric is really nice and the seat is padded with a slim pocket on the chair back. My family was shocked at the price because it looks like more expensive chairs.”
- Connie G.
“Great looking chair! It came so rapidly it was surprising. Wonderful product, and wonderful service.”
- Dawn R.
Star Wheelchair
“Fairly light weight, legs are easy to adjust and reattach, has been essential to use for transport, and I was able to maneuver it fairly well, even in snow!”
- Nancy S.
Alpha Wheelchair
“Great product, and the best part is that it took me like a minute to put it together. It was well packaged and the overall appearance is just wonderful.”
- Darling P.
Transport Chair
“It is light and easy to use. Only its small wheels prove to be in trouble in old streets of New York. You have to get off sometimes. But it is light and easy to navigate on smooth surface. We are satisfied with it. It is very good other than that disadvantage.”
- Xiaojun D.
“The chair was as described and has been very useful for getting me around the city while my leg wound healed before getting back into my prosthetic leg. The lighter weight made it easy to get into the car.”
- Leon S.
Home Exercise for Seniors
A folding pedal exerciser provides cardiovascular exercise at home, without any bulky equipment.
The National Institute on Aging (NIH) recommends four types of exercise for seniors: endurance activities, strengthening exercises, stretching exercises, and balance exercises. All four types of exercise are important components of staying as active and independent as possible.
Endurance
Cardiovascular exercise builds endurance by working the heart and circulatory system. Walking, swimming, and riding bike are three common examples of endurance activities. There are ways to modify these activities for your level of ability. For example, you can use a rollator or cane to provide support for walking (either indoors or outside), and you can use a peddle exerciser to simulate riding a bike while sitting in a chair.
Strengthening
Although pumping iron may no longer be your thing, you can still strengthen your muscles by following an at-home exercise routine. Weighted balls and coated dumbbells are two simple options for upper body conditioning. Increase the weight and number of repetitions gradually, following the advice of a trained medical or fitness professional.
Stretching
Staying limber and flexible can prevent injuries and allow you to do more without straining your body. A yoga or Pilates mat provides a comfortable surface for stretching, if you are able to get down on the floor and back up again. Otherwise, there are many stretching exercises you can perform while sitting in a chair. Other helpful accessories include a Pilates band aids, which aids in both stretching and strengthening, and a balance ball, which aids in stretching and balance.
Balance
Improving and maintaining your balance is important for preventing falls. Standing on one leg, walking heel-to-toe across a room, leg raises, and hip extenders are just a few examples of balance exercises. Some of these exercises can be performed using a balance ball. Other exercises require no special equipment and can be done while you are cooking or watching television.
For more information on exercises for seniors, visit the NIH website.
Quad Cane Basics
The four-point base on a quad cane provides added stability for walking.
If you need more support than a single-tip cane can provide, a quad cane may be the answer. A quad cane improves stability and balance because of the wider base and the use of three or four points of contact with the floor rather than just one.
Types of Quad Canes
Small base and large base quad canes are available. The small base is narrow and can be used for going up or down stairs. The large base is wider and provides more support, but the base is too large to be used on stairs.
Walking with a Quad Cane
When walking with a quad cane, it’s important to make sure that the flat side faces the user. If you look closer at a quad cane, you’ll notice that the shaft is off center where it connects to the base. The two legs on the opposite side of the shaft stick out further than the legs on the same side as the shaft. The flat side of the base (where the shaft is closer to the edge of the base) should face towards the user. This prevents the user from tripping over the legs of the cane.
To use the small base quad cane on stairs, turn the base sideways so that all four tips rest firmly on the step. Do not use a quad cane to navigate stairs unless there is enough room on the step for all four legs.
Most quad canes can be modified for right or left handed use. Following the manufacturer’s instructions, rotate the base 180 degrees so that the flat side faces the user.
Roll Mobility Now Offering Fitness and Wellness Products
Fitness and wellness products by OneTouch Massage
Roll Mobility will now be offering new fitness and wellness products from OneTouch Massage. The new OneTouch Massage products include yoga and Pilates gear, meditation and relaxation aids, massage accessories, and resistance and balance equipment. These products are designed to promote a healthy lifestyle and overall wellbeing through relaxation, meditation, strengthening, and massage.
We are expanding our selection of products to make it easier for customers to adopt a holistic approach to rehabilitation, disability, and aging. Products such as the paraffin wax warmer offer relief for arthritis sufferers and others who experience chronic joint pain, muscle soreness, and dry skin. Yoga balls promote physical strengthening and rehabilitation. Other products focus on emotional and spiritual wellbeing, such as zafu pillows and meditation aids.
The new selection of OneTouch Massage fitness and wellness products includes the following:
- Yoga mats
- Yoga balls
- Pilates mats
- Pilates resistance ring
- Foam blocks
- Foam rollers
- Balance disc
- Desktop massage support
- Chi swing machines
- Handheld massagers
- Massage tools
- Massage and relaxation CDs
- Meditation cushions
- Paraffin wax warmer and accessories
How to Lift a Wheelchair into the Trunk of a Vehicle
Fold the wheelchair before lifting it into the trunk.
One way to transport a manual wheelchair is to load it into the trunk of your vehicle. Lower profile vehicles make it easier to load and unload a wheelchair, since you don’t have to lift the chair as high. No matter what type of vehicle you have or how heavy the wheelchair is, it’s important to use proper lifting techniques to load the wheelchair into a vehicle.
For vans, SUVs, and other vehicles with enough clearance, you can either lift the wheelchair into the vehicle or use a van ramp to roll the wheelchair up the ramp and into the vehicle with less effort.
Loading a Wheelchair into a Vehicle
- To make the wheelchair lighter to lift, remove the leg riggings and any other removable parts (i.e. arm rests, quick-lock wheels, cushions, etc.).
- Fold down the backrest, if applicable (available on some transport chairs).
- Pull up on the seat to fold the wheelchair and make it as compact as possible.
- With one hand, reach across the wheelchair and grab both sides of the frame behind the front casters at the bottom of the wheelchair.
- With the other hand, grab the handle closest to your body.
- Lift the wheelchair straight up, keeping it close to your body, until the wheels are high enough to rest on the edge of the trunk. Use correct posture by lifting with your legs and keeping your back straight.
- Guide the wheels into the trunk and push the rear wheels of the wheelchair to the back of the trunk. The best way to load a wheelchair into the trunk is in the shape of a triangle, where the rear wheels are at the back of the trunk and the handles and footrest area are at the front.
- Put the riggings and other wheelchair accessories into the trunk or back seat of the car.
Do I Need a Wheelchair or Transport Chair?
A transport chair is lightweight and easy to lift, move, and store.
When it comes to choosing a manual chair, you have two basic options: a standard wheelchair or a transport chair. For users who want the best of both options, a combination wheelchair/transport chair is available. Each type of chair has its own benefits. See below to find out which wheelchair is best for your needs.
You may need a transport chair if…
- The person sitting in the chair cannot or does not need to push the wheelchair by themselves
- Lifting a 35 to 40 lb wheelchair is difficult for you
- You only need to use the wheelchair occasionally (for example, medical appointments or shopping trips)
- You need a wheelchair with a folding seat and back for easy storage and transportation
You may need a wheelchair if…
- The person sitting in the wheelchair needs to be able to propel themselves
- The person sitting in the chair spends most of their day in a wheelchair
- You need a chair with a customizable fit
You may need a combination wheelchair/transport chair if…
- The versatility of using only one chair as a transport chair and wheelchair is important to you
- You need both a wheelchair and a transport chair but don’t want the expense of buying both
- You need both a wheelchair and a transport chair but have limited storage space for mobility equipment
The Pollywog Transforming Wheelchair converts from a transport chair to a standard wheelchair.
Wheelchairs
A wheelchair can be pushed by the user or by a companion. The large rear wheels make it easier to push the chair over curbs and obstacles, and they smooth out the ride on rough terrain. Since a wheelchair is more comfortable and easier to customize, it’s generally a better choice for users who spend the majority of their day in a wheelchair.
Transport Wheelchairs
A transport wheelchair is designed to be pushed by a companion, although some people use their feet to shuffle around the house while sitting in the chair. Since a transport chair is lighter in weight than a standard wheelchair, it is easier to lift and move, especially when lifting into the trunk or backseat of a vehicle. With a folding backrest and seat and smaller wheels, a transport chair folds into a compact size for storage, which is especially convenient when the chair is used mainly for occasional doctor appointments, shopping trips, and other outings.
Combination Wheelchair/Transport Chairs
A combination wheelchair/transport chair is the solution for individuals who need both a wheelchair and transport chair but who want to save on expenses and on the amount of equipment they need to buy. The combination wheelchair gives you more versatility for the best of both worlds.
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