Exercises for Special Population

What Are the Exercises for Special Population?

Exercise is mandatory for everyone (kids, adults, and older people) to live a healthy and disease-free life. Routine exercises play an important role in maintaining health, physic, and mind also. Exercise is as important as nutrition for the body. In the case of special populations, exercise should be added to their routine. Daily exercise helps special populations to reduce their problems and prevent the occurrence of new diseases. Every doctor suggests adding some kind of exercise to the day-to-day routine of a special population.

Who Is the Special Population?

Special populations include people with disabilities, mental disorders (mongolism, cerebral palsy), metabolic diseases (blood pressure, diabetes), heart-related problems, or any systemic diseases. These people are on medication, and they have to work according to their doctor’s advice. These people need special kinds of exercise and guidance.

How Do Exercises Help Special Populations?

Adding some kind of exercise in life is always beneficial. It helps people to be fit physically and mentally. Research says people involved with exercise tend to live longer and healthier. In this fast-growing life, maintaining a balance between health and work is quite impossible. In this case, exercises help in reducing stress and decreasing the risk of diseases. Chances of heart attack and angina can be decreased by exercise. For special populations, who are already suffering from some kind of disease, exercise makes them healthy and strengthens their immune system. People suffering from obesity can lose weight and maintain their physique. People will feel energetic and positive.

How to Plan Exercises for Special Populations?

Special populations are usually under a doctor's supervision and on medication. They should not apply all kinds of exercises, and they need to ask their doctor to perform any kind of activity. Planning is also necessary to follow exercise programs for special populations. Some points are listed below.

• Case History/Medical History- Special population people are usually suffering from some kind of disease, and they are under medication. Taking their proper medical history is a crucial part of exercise program planning. A lack of knowledge about the medical condition of a person can result in a risk to their life. An exercise plan should be designed according to their medical condition.

Example-

• An asthmatic patient cannot do high-intensity cardio as it can lead to breathing problems, so yoga can be added to their plan instead of cardio; along with this, an asthmatic person should always carry his or her inhaler.

• A person with a leg disability or hand disability cannot perform the related exercise, so the plan should be designed as per their requirement.

• Need of the Person - Every person comes with different kinds of needs and expectations. To know the different kinds of expectations, communication with the person is necessary. After listening to the problems and expectations of all people, it is easy to plan the exercise program according to their needs.

Example -

• Obese people want to lose weight.

• Lean people want to put on weight.

• Older people want strength and balance.

• Younger people want to build a muscular body.

• Some people with mental disabilities are there to maintain their routine life.

What Comes First during Exercises of the Special Population?

Only a fitness trainer can list the plan for an especially able person. Every person puts different priorities for themselves, but it is the trainer who will prioritize what comes first. Only a good exercise plan will turn into a better result. While designing the exercise program, this point is very much of use. After the collection of medical history, prioritizing the exercise according to the need of the medical condition is important.

Example -

• For an obese person, fat loss exercises are prioritized.

• For an older person, strength-gaining exercises are prioritized.

How to Plan Final Exercises for a Special Population?

Planning the final exercise should be done after gathering all the medical history, personal expectations, and fitness levels. In the plan, different kinds of exercises for different kinds of needs should be added. The program should be flexible so that it can be practiced anywhere (at home, in the gym, or outdoors). Proper training for each exercise should be provided.

What Exercises Can Be Done by the Special Population?

The special population's exercise includes almost every exercise in moderation. Keeping in mind the disabilities or diseases of the person, the trainer should guide them to exercise. Some exercises for special populations are listed below -

• Cycling.

• Running.

• Walking.

• Swimming.

• Stretching.

• Balancing.

• Dancing.

• Yoga.

What Are the Precautions for Special Population Exercises?

While planning exercises for special populations, some important points are there to be taken care of. The effect of exercise should result in benefits and not harm the person. Some precaution points are listed below-

• Always check for clearance from the doctor.

• All the emergency medicine should be kept with the person who is exercising, such as an inhaler.

• Always do the exercise in moderation.

• Do not over-practice exercises.

• Always perform under the guidance of a fitness trainer.

• Asthmatic people avoid high-intensity exercises.

• Do not exercise if your body does not allow it.

• Do not exercise under suffocating weather.

• Hydrate the body well.

• While training pregnant ladies, high-intensity workouts are not allowed.

• Proper nutrition is mandatory with exercise.

• Do not discontinue the medication.

• Ensure sleep for seven to eight hours.

• Stop doing the wrong exercises.

Conclusion:

Special exercise programs are designed to help special populations by which they can be trained and make their life better. People with hypertension and diabetes can change their health status with the help of exercise. Research says type two diabetes is a fully lifestyle-based disease, and maintaining a good lifestyle will result in a better prognosis for diabetes. A specially designed exercise program decreases the severity of disease and also helps in increasing positivity and decreasing stress. People with hypertension who are doing regular exercises are at a lower risk of any kind of heart disease (heart attack). People who are suffering from breathing problems can reduce their health problems by simply adding some breathing exercises. Meanwhile, exercise has overall good results on health and mental condition.