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Home gym remodeling for a vision disability

A home gym remodeling for a vision disability project is one way to encourage a visually impaired family member to exercise and become physically active.

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Home gym remodeling for a vision disability. Photo by Louish Pixel on Flickr.People who are visually impaired often exhibit lower levels of fitness compared to people who have no sensory disabilities. This may be due to lack of motivation or systemic health problems that prevent them from enjoying physical activities. A home gym remodeling for a vision disability project is one way to encourage a visually impaired family member to exercise and become physically active.

Connect with area contractors for your home gym remodeling for a vision disability project!

Your current home gym may not provide suitable accessibility to people with disabilities. A residential renovation may be needed to ensure that a visually impaired family member can function well in the home fitness center.

When doing home gym remodeling for a vision disability, use equipment that is suitable for the person's age and degree of visual loss. Adults may be able to perform regular aerobic exercises, but elderly people and children may lack the necessary muscles and strength.

A treadmill is a safe and convenient piece of equipment that is suitable for all ages. Use a treadmill with a handrail that can serve as a guide to the visually impaired individual. It would also help if the treadmill features:

    • Raised console iconography for easier identification of the main control panel.
    • Large graphics and texts.
    • Multiple belt logos.
    • An emergency stop lanyard.
    • A color-contrasted belt and deck so the user can differentiate which part of the treadmill is moving.

You can also add a makeshift Braille print over the control panel to accommodate the disabilities of the visually impaired.

Like a treadmill, a stationary bike also provides a suitable and a moderate workout to visually impaired people. Choose a bike that has a self-adjusting feature and an easy step-through or a swing-away seat for easier mounting and dismounting from the equipment.

Elliptical bikes provide upper body workouts and are less strenuous than a treadmill. Newer elliptical bike models come with a highly contrasted screen for the visually impaired and have touch-sensitive heart rate monitors.

As part of home gym remodeling for a vision disability, have your contractor build a workout staircase. Instead of one that is mobile, like StairMaster, you can have the staircase custom fit for your loved one.

If the person wishes to focus on strength training, use stationary machines with different types of free weights and pulleys. Introduce the person to the machine, and demonstrate its uses as well as its benefits. If you're setting up several pieces of equipment, use a rope to guide the person to the next station and label each station with Braille or large text.

When you're remodeling a personal home fitness center for vision disability, make sure to free some space for exercise mats for less strenuous and stress-relieving exercises. Yoga and sitting exercises help relieve stress and promote relaxation while promoting weight loss, balance and flexibility. These exercises can also be performed in other parts of the house if you do not have sufficient space inside the fitness center.

A visual impairment should not hinder a person from leading a physically active life. While it may be difficult to adjust to a new environment at first, familiarity with the place and the help of supportive family members can make things less complicated for a visually impaired individual.

If you're not sure on how to remodel a home gym for a vision disability, you can consult a fitness expert and a contractor to help you with your residential remodeling project. You can use Reply! to locate a contractor near your area.

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Photo credit: Louish Pixel via Compfight CC.