Hi im Amber and ive been parayzed from the chest down for about 3 years now due to a car accident not only a few days after my highschool graduation. I've came upon your videos and you're such an inspiration. You're a very strong person mentally and physically. Keep up the good work. God bless you
Thank you so much for your videos! As an Occupational Therapy student, it can be very hard to visualize what life looks like for people post-injury. Your videos help a lot with that!
Yes, keeping active when you have a physical injury or disability helps the body stay flexible. Not working out makes the muscles tightened up making mobility more difficult. You also slow down the progress of arthritis in your joints and help your circulation stay flowing. Good workout man. ☺
I love your videos. I'm not paraplegic but I think your videos are really helpful for people that are! In my Physical Therapy program we were talking about spinal cord injuries and my professor wanted to show us transfers so I refered her to your videos :)
I just had a c6 complete injury a month ago and I'm still in rehab right now. I've been looking for how to get back to the gym, thank you for making this video!!
You do fantastic! I'm going to take your video to the gym so I can have them see what I'm talking about. I've pushed a chair for 18 years and now have used an electric one for 21 years after that. I'm a T6 complete and have never been able to explain well enough that they understand what I'm trying to do. Thanks,
You used the word 'tricky' like 7 times, but this doesn't matter. What matters is how you help others by sharing your amazing videos. I'm doing a project on paraplegia, your channel aids me a lot! :)
Fantastic video with some great tips for the gym!! 😃💪🏻 As a C 4/5 incomplete & T 4 complete SCI since 1994, I can identify with you on the struggle with core control. But I think there is ways to use free weights to get beyond this. The trick is to use lightweights with greater reps - I tend to do three sets of 35 reps with a 5 pound and 8 pound dumbbell. Another suggested dumbbell use for arm curls is to go from a vertical curl directly into an overhead press, returning to the shoulder, & then to the lowered straight arm. Then repeat the rep. It’s a killer arm builder! 😜 I also have an equalizer gym myself. A word of caution to the military press - as you age in a wheelchair, using the military press overhead can compress the spine with lack of core to support it. It is why I gave up using it for the sake of lighter free weights & greater reps. By applying prolonged compression on an unsupported spine it can lead to scoliosis or kyphosis. Trust me, I know! As a T 1, I’m impressed with how you’ve managed to maintain your core condition! Any tips on how we might maintain a healthy diet and protein intake while not in appropriately growing the abdomen core? 😉🫃
Thanks for your workout ideas....I am a trainer and workout with a guy whose injury is similar to yours...so hard to come up with fresh ideas...thank you so much!
I'm a T10-12 incomplete due to tethered cord syndrome, and this video is really helpful in giving me a few ideas of exercises to do, as I am looking into going to the gym more. Thanks for this!
Thank you for this video, Brian! I am a C7 Quad/Para (my hand grip is impaired, but most people consider me paraplegic), and have been trying really hard to get my shoulders/chest/back/arms to stand out over my goofy core, and this gave me some good ideas. You mention at one point that resistance bands at home work just as well for some things. There is no gym around my area as accessible as the one you were at, so most of my workouts are at home. On days you don't go to the gym but want to workout, what home exercises do you do? Would you make a video for that? I know you're not as gaga over exercising as a lot of other people are, but you look great compared to most people who have lost core function, and people notice that.
Nice video! Did lol at the start, just finished at the gym doing a chest and arms workout - I’m a T12 para, your gym looks awesome I transfer into machines and benches to workout
I have to say as a Low Quad and an Ex body builder. Your completely backwards on what muscle groups your working. As pushing in a wheelchair your constantly using, deltoid, Traps, Infaruspinatus, Teres Major, and Triceps if you have them. your working chest and front front and Anterior Deltoid in most your begening lifts.
I live in a small town so my Y doesn't have a lot of handicap accessible machines. I could always transfer, but I find it easier to just do free weight
Great lifting, Brian! You made a lot of sense when you said we need to focus on the back. I agree and I'll keep that in mind. My question is: do you feel a bit of spasticity when you lift dumbbells?
No, I don't really get upper body spasms. It's usually in my legs and only if I've been sitting for a long time. This is rarely an issue when working out because I'm moving around so much.
I was at the gym today and was searching for tips since I'm paraplegic as well and always want to learn more...i found it funny cuz people think I'm crazy working out in jeans haha.
How long do you typically spend at the gym with your workouts? I'm a t4 complete injury for only 8 months now looking for a gym and I'm just wondering how long I might spend there
+Alexander Gromov My cardio routine consists of an arm bike (UBE) and a rope pull down machine. I have another video related to this so check it out. (uploading now)
l have never been to a gym, always just got massive exercise pushing my chair miles and miles! Great information, l hope to be able to utalize what you are teaching here. l wonder Brian, what seat back are you using? Getting ready for a new chair. Thanks a lot, Randy
+SitDownPerspective Hi Randy. My backrest is called the ROHO Jetstream Pro and it's a solid piece of carbon fiber with a pad attached to it. I highly recommend this backrest due to it's solid construction and support it provides. It's also REDICULOUSLY light weight.
Your wheelchair locks seem to be really easy engage (flick of the wrist). Who makes them? I'm guessing the same as the chair, but was hoping they might be something I could buy and attach to my chair.
They are composite scissor locks that came on my TiLite chair. They are plastic though and tend to wear out over time. I suggest looking up Eagle aluminum scissor brakes online. They are the same design but much more sturdy since they are metal and not much more money than the plastic ones.
This was very helpful! Thank you! I'm curious, what sort of things do you do for aerobics? I had a trainer recently tell me that studies are showing that if we do muscle building, cardio isn't quite as important as we once believed.
Getting boxing gloves and finding a punching bag (most gyms/kickboxing gyms have them) is awesome cardio! So is finding a side street when it's nice out (or any open flat area) and pushing up and down it several times, timing yourself and trying to beat your time each time!
i got weighed last week, which is not an easy thing to be able to do here (uk), sit down weight scales are really hard to find, i had to go to my hospitals A & E (E.R) department to find one. basically i'm about 15-20 pounds heavier than i want to be, not much but i am a bit flabbier than i like, so was wondering if you had any advice on exercises i could do from my chair to help assist with weight loss, obviously i know less KFC and Mcdonalds is the main thing but just wondered if there are any simple exercises to help along the way.
These moves are ok but you really need to work on abdominal part as it droops over time. As a paraplegic l know that it is the most difficult part to handle. I would love to see if you have any tricks in order to prevent this prolapse.
Hello good afternoon. I tried to do a lot of exercise but my lack of trunk control hinders me to do, I wonder if you showed these exercises serve to also improve trunk control? since my injury is T5 level, I think q like yours. greetings from Medellin Colombia, congratulations on your videos.
+julian esteban gomez cartagena Yes, these workouts definitely help you core stability. Even with my high injury level I have managed to maintain more core stability than most.
Thank you so much for your videos they are such an inspiration My sister was in a car Accident in Grandview Ohio.She now is a Paraplegic she is still in the hospital it been a week and she is unable to speak they had to go in and relive pressure from her brain. I am an older brother and not knowing what to expect is there some book or a video to watch? Hard question and not sure if there's an answer but how long before she comes around and what should we expect?Is there anything we (her family can do to help her) a long.
Ironically, my accident was also in Grandview Ohio. I can't really say how she will recover but the most functionality usually returns (if it's going to) in the first 12 months. There's not a ton you can do...actually it's almost better if you don't do everything for her because it's important for her to figure out how to take care of herself. I really hope the brain injury clears up. Just give it time.
awesome video thanks ill do it next week im t7 live in Cleveland if u know some groups that can help me to know how can i b more independent pleaseee let me know
+soni sachin Hi Soni. Unfortunately I don't have any ab control since my injury is from the armpits down. Since I don't have control of my abs cannot work out my ab muscles.
I think doing more reps with less weight is a little more beneficial and easier to control if you have poor core control. So maybe 16-20 reps. If you are just starting out you could do less. It’s always best to not go too crazy at first until you’ve built up some muscle endurance. That way you can still roll your wheelchair without feeling like your arms are gonna fall off. Lol
Hi Bryan, thanks for your videos, help us a lot. I'm from Ecuador, i'm T4 - T5 paraplegic. I sent a query by private message 1 week ago, I hope you can help me, greetings
Hi im Amber and ive been parayzed from the chest down for about 3 years now due to a car accident not only a few days after my highschool graduation. I've came upon your videos and you're such an inspiration. You're a very strong person mentally and physically. Keep up the good work. God bless you
@Alvin Ronan Ummm is that even necessary...? No one really cares, this is an inspirational video. NOT drama based Instagram.
I’m not even paralyzed but I am in a wheelchair from a traumatic brain injury and I find your videos so inspiring ❤
im A spinal bifida person And each one of your videos are very usefull for me thanks for doing what you are are doing ...
Julian Puentes I have Spina Bifida too
Thank you so much for your videos! As an Occupational Therapy student, it can be very hard to visualize what life looks like for people post-injury. Your videos help a lot with that!
Yes, keeping active when you have a physical injury or disability helps the body stay flexible. Not working out makes the muscles tightened up making mobility more difficult. You also slow down the progress of arthritis in your joints and help your circulation stay flowing. Good workout man. ☺
smart wording
I love your videos. I'm not paraplegic but I think your videos are really helpful for people that are! In my Physical Therapy program we were talking about spinal cord injuries and my professor wanted to show us transfers so I refered her to your videos :)
+Chauna Thanks for the feedback! That's awesome! :)
I just had a c6 complete injury a month ago and I'm still in rehab right now. I've been looking for how to get back to the gym, thank you for making this video!!
Your videos always seem to find me at the right time. Love the work Brian! Your videos have helped me so much.
Thank you! I've been looking for a good video to help me get started with a wheelchair workout I can do from home 👍🏻
Thanks for putting yourself out there man. Your videos are very helpful for learning how to deal with this type of injury!
You're so strong. It's hard to believe that you did all that with just your arms and not your chest and abs! Really cool. :)
You do fantastic! I'm going to take your video to the gym so I can have them see what I'm talking about. I've pushed a chair for 18 years and now have used an electric one for 21 years after that. I'm a T6 complete and have never been able to explain well enough that they understand what I'm trying to do. Thanks,
+Sandi Kirsch Glad the videos help!
You used the word 'tricky' like 7 times, but this doesn't matter. What matters is how you help others by sharing your amazing videos. I'm doing a project on paraplegia, your channel aids me a lot! :)
+Agnieszka Nessie Glad the videos are helpful! Thanks for the feedback.
Fantastic video with some great tips for the gym!! 😃💪🏻
As a C 4/5 incomplete & T 4 complete SCI since 1994, I can identify with you on the struggle with core control. But I think there is ways to use free weights to get beyond this. The trick is to use lightweights with greater reps - I tend to do three sets of 35 reps with a 5 pound and 8 pound dumbbell.
Another suggested dumbbell use for arm curls is to go from a vertical curl directly into an overhead press, returning to the shoulder, & then to the lowered straight arm. Then repeat the rep. It’s a killer arm builder! 😜
I also have an equalizer gym myself. A word of caution to the military press - as you age in a wheelchair, using the military press overhead can compress the spine with lack of core to support it. It is why I gave up using it for the sake of lighter free weights & greater reps. By applying prolonged compression on an unsupported spine it can lead to scoliosis or kyphosis. Trust me, I know!
As a T 1, I’m impressed with how you’ve managed to maintain your core condition! Any tips on how we might maintain a healthy diet and protein intake while not in appropriately growing the abdomen core? 😉🫃
I see you Queen keep being encouraged be blessed we can do all things through I've been wheelchair-bound for 11 years I've mastered it!!!
Thanks for your workout ideas....I am a trainer and workout with a guy whose injury is similar to yours...so hard to come up with fresh ideas...thank you so much!
I'm a T10-12 incomplete due to tethered cord syndrome, and this video is really helpful in giving me a few ideas of exercises to do, as I am looking into going to the gym more. Thanks for this!
Awesome video man. i'm doing strength training for kids wheelchair basketball league and this gave me some good insight on what i can do for them!
Thank you for this video, Brian! I am a C7 Quad/Para (my hand grip is impaired, but most people consider me paraplegic), and have been trying really hard to get my shoulders/chest/back/arms to stand out over my goofy core, and this gave me some good ideas.
You mention at one point that resistance bands at home work just as well for some things. There is no gym around my area as accessible as the one you were at, so most of my workouts are at home. On days you don't go to the gym but want to workout, what home exercises do you do? Would you make a video for that?
I know you're not as gaga over exercising as a lot of other people are, but you look great compared to most people who have lost core function, and people notice that.
Thank you…My Core has become my most difficult…impossible, to get rid of a gut I’ve started to get after 15 yrs.
These videos have been useful for me to help my younger sister workout. Thanks for making them!
Nice video! Did lol at the start, just finished at the gym doing a chest and arms workout - I’m a T12 para, your gym looks awesome I transfer into machines and benches to workout
This is awesome and sooo so helpful !! I'm trying desperately to fix my posture ,loose weight and get stronger so this is very helpful
This is cool because is hard trying to workout when we’re in a disabled state with our body. Really hinders what we can do but this is helpful
22 years ago,, I broke C6 and C7 and graded as a T1. I daily do 3 different bumbbell exercises is bed or 100 push-ups in bed.
Wow, you have given me some great ideas to improve my workout--thanks!
Great Video, Cool tip on keeping the bar low.
Great stuff bro... Well done
Awesome video!!! You're badass man.💪
I have to say as a Low Quad and an Ex body builder. Your completely backwards on what muscle groups your working. As pushing in a wheelchair your constantly using, deltoid, Traps, Infaruspinatus, Teres Major, and Triceps if you have them. your working chest and front front and Anterior Deltoid in most your begening lifts.
YOUR AMAZING THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME COURAGE
Nice!!! My gym is NOT accessible at all so workout takes longer than usual and transfer onto the machines with some help.
I live in a small town so my Y doesn't have a lot of handicap accessible machines. I could always transfer, but I find it easier to just do free weight
very good, strengthen the muscles to prevent injuries in the tendons
Thank you needed this for my dad
Really helpful! Thanks for sharing.
This gym is so much better than mine. All the machines have immovable seats welded on. So no lat pulls for me
Great lifting, Brian! You made a lot of sense when you said we need to focus on the back. I agree and I'll keep that in mind. My question is: do you feel a bit of spasticity when you lift dumbbells?
No, I don't really get upper body spasms. It's usually in my legs and only if I've been sitting for a long time. This is rarely an issue when working out because I'm moving around so much.
Paralyzed Living I see.
Great video! Our workout routine is damn near identical.
Great information! Thank you! I live in Central Ohio
I was at the gym today and was searching for tips since I'm paraplegic as well and always want to learn more...i found it funny cuz people think I'm crazy working out in jeans haha.
HAHA you aren't crazy. You are smart because you don't have to worry about changing! Hope the vid was helpful. :)
Paralyzed Living very much so. I checked out some of your videos as well, I had a lot of questions I have found answers to :).
thanks brian!
I’m t6 complete, you’re lucky having a gym designed for wheelchair users
How long do you typically spend at the gym with your workouts? I'm a t4 complete injury for only 8 months now looking for a gym and I'm just wondering how long I might spend there
Usually an hour max.
Great video, thanks a lot! Found several useful exercises for myself :)
What about cardio? What is your typical routine for it?
+Alexander Gromov My cardio routine consists of an arm bike (UBE) and a rope pull down machine. I have another video related to this so check it out. (uploading now)
I’m in a wheelchair and I just started working out last year and my form of cardio is boxing that could be a good cardio workout
l have never been to a gym, always just got massive exercise pushing my chair miles and miles! Great information, l hope to be able to utalize what you are teaching here. l wonder Brian, what seat back are you using? Getting ready for a new chair. Thanks a lot, Randy
+SitDownPerspective Hi Randy. My backrest is called the ROHO Jetstream Pro and it's a solid piece of carbon fiber with a pad attached to it. I highly recommend this backrest due to it's solid construction and support it provides. It's also REDICULOUSLY light weight.
hi , I just want to know how do you control belly not to get fat ? what do you do ? Please let me know.
Your wheelchair locks seem to be really easy engage (flick of the wrist). Who makes them? I'm guessing the same as the chair, but was hoping they might be something I could buy and attach to my chair.
They are composite scissor locks that came on my TiLite chair. They are plastic though and tend to wear out over time. I suggest looking up Eagle aluminum scissor brakes online. They are the same design but much more sturdy since they are metal and not much more money than the plastic ones.
For a T1 lesion u stay very stable. For abdominal or ur legs is necessary to do any exercise???
please make an app. Also, can you include your diet on this app/ workout plan?
This was very helpful! Thank you! I'm curious, what sort of things do you do for aerobics? I had a trainer recently tell me that studies are showing that if we do muscle building, cardio isn't quite as important as we once believed.
Getting boxing gloves and finding a punching bag (most gyms/kickboxing gyms have them) is awesome cardio! So is finding a side street when it's nice out (or any open flat area) and pushing up and down it several times, timing yourself and trying to beat your time each time!
Shmiddler Thank you for reminding me of boxing! It's something I've been meaning to look into.
i got weighed last week, which is not an easy thing to be able to do here (uk), sit down weight scales are really hard to find, i had to go to my hospitals A & E (E.R) department to find one.
basically i'm about 15-20 pounds heavier than i want to be, not much but i am a bit flabbier than i like, so was wondering if you had any advice on exercises i could do from my chair to help assist with weight loss, obviously i know less KFC and Mcdonalds is the main thing but just wondered if there are any simple exercises to help along the way.
These moves are ok but you really need to work on abdominal part as it droops over time. As a paraplegic l know that it is the most difficult part to handle. I would love to see if you have any tricks in order to prevent this prolapse.
I like the content
You are AWESOME!
Hello good afternoon. I tried to do a lot of exercise but my lack of trunk control hinders me to do, I wonder if you showed these exercises serve to also improve trunk control? since my injury is T5 level, I think q like yours. greetings from Medellin Colombia, congratulations on your videos.
+julian esteban gomez cartagena Yes, these workouts definitely help you core stability. Even with my high injury level I have managed to maintain more core stability than most.
Thank you so much for your videos they are such an inspiration My sister was in a car Accident in Grandview Ohio.She now is a Paraplegic she is still in the hospital it been a week and she is unable to speak they had to go in and relive pressure from her brain. I am an older brother and not knowing what to expect is there some book or a video to watch? Hard question and not sure if there's an answer but how long before she comes around and what should we expect?Is there anything we (her family can do to help her) a long.
Ironically, my accident was also in Grandview Ohio. I can't really say how she will recover but the most functionality usually returns (if it's going to) in the first 12 months. There's not a ton you can do...actually it's almost better if you don't do everything for her because it's important for her to figure out how to take care of herself. I really hope the brain injury clears up. Just give it time.
awesome video thanks ill do it next week im t7 live in Cleveland if u know some groups that can help me to know how can i b more independent pleaseee let me know
Am t6 do you take any pre workout supplements I have hard time focusing at the gym 😅
How do you keep your jeans up? I've yet to even wear jeans because buying the good ones for para's are so expensive :P
I use a belt and don't have issues.
Hi I'm Jessica, I was born with spina bifida I'm 39. Needing major strengthening upper body parts
great video man (t2)
Any suggestions for aHemiplegicme Workout
hi i love all your videos ... can u please doo some abs excirese's tht can b done by a paraplegic
+soni sachin Hi Soni. Unfortunately I don't have any ab control since my injury is from the armpits down. Since I don't have control of my abs cannot work out my ab muscles.
i am vijay walke from india i like vidio
Any suggestions for workout sfor hemiplegic I do not have use of my left side arm or leg
Due to a recent stroke
I want to know how many reps to start off with
I think doing more reps with less weight is a little more beneficial and easier to control if you have poor core control. So maybe 16-20 reps. If you are just starting out you could do less. It’s always best to not go too crazy at first until you’ve built up some muscle endurance. That way you can still roll your wheelchair without feeling like your arms are gonna fall off. Lol
Excellent video!! I send you lots of kisses!😃
Why u don't sweat
You make me feel sooo lazy. I'm able bodied, but not as able bodied as you are.
Put a kettle bell or dumbbell on your foot plate heavier than your weight your doing should stop you from going into a wheelie
I'm guessing you usually skip leg day? :P
Hahaha yes you nailed it! :)
does he skip leg day?
Yep I ALWAYS skip leg day! 🤣
Hi Bryan, thanks for your videos, help us a lot. I'm from Ecuador, i'm T4 - T5 paraplegic. I sent a query by private message 1 week ago, I hope you can help me, greetings
showing me that there's not much you cant do once your into it bro..!!! Hella strong arms you must have..! heh..???
😍😍😍 _ l&r's to ya bro* 💋❤
It looks like your arms got bigger
What gym is that? Also are you still married never see video of you and wife.
It's a YMCA. And yes, I am married still. My wife filmed this video actually. She prefers the other side of the camera.
No offence but I'm ahead of this guys time
That’s good! I’m sure quite a few are.
Are you using facebook?
I am! I have a FB page with the same name.