Wheelchair users and exercise during Pandemic restrictions by Fiz

[Strontium Green]

Fiz

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Wheelchair users and exercise during Pandemic restrictions
« on: 02 Feb 2021 12:33PM »

I haven't bought my powerchair yet so this isn't yet relevant but as far as I read the government rules on restrictions during this pandemic it reads that you can leave home once a day to exercise. Given that I can't walk far and when I get the chair would use that to leave my home, does that mean I can't go out for fresh air daily in it or to have someone walk beside me to chat to because I am not exercising in the powerchair?


I can't find any guidance on this on the government website. I wouldn't be exercising so I think it would be forbidden to join someone on their walk?

[Strontium Green]

SashaQ

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Re: Wheelchair users and exercise during Pandemic restrictions
« Reply #1 on: 19 Feb 2021 08:16PM »

I'd say that counts as exercise - you're sitting up in the chair and your hand is exercised on the control.  Daily fresh air is very important, I think - I go out  every day, sometimes for a wheelchair run and sometimes for birdwatching, which is exercise fighting against the wind!  I hope you have been getting out and about :)

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JLR2
Re: Wheelchair users and exercise during Pandemic restrictions
« Reply #2 on: 19 Feb 2021 09:13PM »

Given folk who are dog owners are allowed out as often as their dog needs walking I'd tell anyone asking I'm out looking for my dog, maybe taking a dog's lead with you :o)

[Sunshine Meadows]

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/national-lockdown-stay-at-home#exercising

If you (or a person in your care) have a health condition that routinely requires you to leave home to maintain your health - including if that involves travel beyond your local area or exercising several times a day - then you can do so.

When around other people, stay 2 metres apart from anyone not in your household. This includes the person you are exercising with, unless they are from your household - meaning the people you live with - or your support bubble.


I would expect that any disabled person who can go out would be allowed out, even if it is not actual physical exercise. I mean I don't think the police would stop you and issue a fine as long as you were following the social distancing guidelines. Maybe there could be a situation where others get judgemental about me being out in my scooter but that is their is issue not mine. Anyone who feels confident in their ability to be out and about should do it.

I do like JLR's idea of carrying a dog lead.

[JLR2]

Sunshine, even having an empty carrier bag would do as simply telling anyone asking that you were going shopping no questioning person could prove you weren't.

[Fiz]

Yesterday I met up with someone in a park for a cuppa and chat. I have a strong lightweight camping chair which I set up 2 metres from a bench so we can sit and chat socially distanced. It was so nice to feel the warmth of the sun on me. My first social event of the year! 

Today I had another outing. A mammogram, I know how to have fun!

[Sunshine Meadows]

I always knew that many people who were long term sick or disabled were good at thinking out of the box and finding ways to do things they need to do. This thread is a good example 

[JLR2]

Sunshine I might be needing to do some thinking out of the box come Friday when I've a load of timber being delivered including a couple of two and a half metre railway sleepers. I'll be moving the car to the nearby public car park so as to allow the delivery driver to off load the delivery into the garden and then it's down to the out of the box thinking as to how I'm going to get this timber through to the back garden. No doubt I'll get it done, whether I'll be fit to do anything having done it is another question

[Sunshine Meadows]

>snap< we also had a timber delivery and the fence posts I got were way to big  so much so I cant really move one let along hold it upright so it is good that I have a Mr Sunshine. 

Well done in having the presence  of mind to move the car, unfortunately we live in a terrace so the front room no looks like a garage with a sofa in it 

[ditchdwellers]

Sunshine,  I can have a fair guess what the timber and fence posts you bought are probably going to be used for, however JLR2 may I please be nosey and ask what project you are embarking on with your railway sleepers? Raised beds in the garden maybe? 
I love hearing about your tinkering about 

[JLR2]

DD, I'm looking to build the base for some gazebo decking, I've been digging the outline so as to lower the height of the sleepers (200mm) so that when things are done I don't go bouncing my head off the gazebo timbers