# Do you any Gymn's have exercise machines wheelchairs can use? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 28, 2017, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-any-gymns-have-exercise-machines-wheelchairs-can-use/790072 "2017-06-28T17:42:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2017, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-any-gymns-have-exercise-machines-wheelchairs-can-use/790072/1 "2017-06-28T17:42:38Z")
Asking for a relative. She recently had surgery and finished rehab. She wants to continue exercising. The Rehab gymn had equipment that could be used from wheelchairs. [https://goo.gl/images/ErZQLQ](https://goo.gl/images/ErZQLQ) [https://goo.gl/images/sX7JFc](https://goo.gl/images/sX7JFc) [![](https://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=https://cdn3.volusion.com/sxcyn.avfpr/v/vspfiles/photos/1006LD-LP-3.jpg?1397903519&imgrefurl=https://www.accesstr.com/Equalizer-7-Station-p/1006ld-lp.htm&docid=vgEdda6m6sTmFM&tbnid=qCEkiY3NvRu9fM:&vet=1&w=510&h=640&source=sh/x/im) ](https://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=https://cdn3.volusion.com/sxcyn.avfpr/v/vspfiles/photos/1006LD-LP-3.jpg?1397903519&imgrefurl=https://www.accesstr.com/Equalizer-7-Station-p/1006ld-lp.htm&docid=vgEdda6m6sTmFM&tbnid=qCEkiY3NvRu9fM:&vet=1&w=510&h=640&source=sh/x/im) Any of the big franchise gymns have something similar? I don’t think she could safely transfer onto the equipment. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2017, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-any-gymns-have-exercise-machines-wheelchairs-can-use/790072/2 "2017-06-28T18:05:39Z")
You should PM **[Abivalid](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/member.php)**. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2017, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-any-gymns-have-exercise-machines-wheelchairs-can-use/790072/3 "2017-06-28T18:30:16Z")
Pm sent. I doubt the gymn would have a dedicated machine. The might have an adaptive one that allows a bench to get moved out of the way. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2017, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-any-gymns-have-exercise-machines-wheelchairs-can-use/790072/4 "2017-06-28T18:49:06Z")
I suspect that the equipment at commercial gyms (why the weird spelling, by the way?) varies by location, especially for franchises. So why don’t you just call around to the gyms in your area and ask them? ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2017, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-any-gymns-have-exercise-machines-wheelchairs-can-use/790072/5 "2017-06-28T18:59:28Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > I suspect that the equipment at commercial gyms (why the weird spelling, by the way?) varies by location, especially for franchises. So why don’t you just call around to the gyms in your area and ask them? This, basically. IME, “big box store” gyms don’t have much in the way of wheelchair-accessible equipment. But that can always vary between individual gyms that are franchised out. IME, being a wheelchair-using gym rat for almost 2 decades has led me invariably to hospital-based or medically-based “fitness centers”, as opposed to gyms or “workout” places. These places tend to have a plethora of accessible equipment. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2017, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-any-gymns-have-exercise-machines-wheelchairs-can-use/790072/6 "2017-06-28T19:21:29Z")
I found one local place by searching medical fitness center. Called and talked to the owner. He’s got a pully system wheelchairs can use. Rehab has such great equip. But, most of the patients I saw were elderly. The equip didn’t get much use. The physical therapists were always busy when I visited my cousin. A lot of sick people trying to get better. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2017, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-any-gymns-have-exercise-machines-wheelchairs-can-use/790072/7 "2017-06-28T19:25:52Z")
Thank you! ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2017, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-any-gymns-have-exercise-machines-wheelchairs-can-use/790072/8 "2017-06-28T20:42:02Z")
If she can’t get out of the wheelchair, she might have issues. Although she could still use dumbbells and things like that. I used to train with a guy in a chair, but he could get out of the chair, and he had a strap he used to fix himself into place (he had no use of his legs). But when I spotted him, it was a matter of holding the chair while he swung himself into place, then buckling the strap under the seat or the bench, and then he was used to balancing the weight so he didn’t slip. He was as strong as fuck, too - IIRC he did marathons, and his shoulders were like rocks. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![si\_blakely](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@si\_blakely](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/si_blakely)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2017, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-any-gymns-have-exercise-machines-wheelchairs-can-use/790072/9 "2017-06-29T02:28:24Z")
[This guy](http://peterhullmbe.com/about-peter/) used to work out at a small gym I went to in the UK. He always had one of the gym staff to assist, but he worked out like a monster. They used a lot of straps to the equipment (i.e hand bike, cable pulls, etc), and were always adapting. Really nice guy. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2017, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-any-gymns-have-exercise-machines-wheelchairs-can-use/790072/10 "2017-06-29T03:45:30Z")
If I had to recommend one piece of equipment for a wheelchair-user, it’d be the [upper body ergometer](http://www.fitnesssuperstore.com/SCIFIT-Pro1-Seated-Upper-Body-Exerciser-p/sfpro100.htm?gclid=Cj0KEQjwp83KBRC2kev0tZzExLkBEiQAYxYXOqo_N2Z80HYomfqlhGQwlcrvNBY3i-2c5O-1wq-pjPIaAgCC8P8HAQ), or “armbike”. It can be set for direct wheelchair access (the seat is detachable) and used for cardiovascular exercise and/or upper body strengthening. Given the lack of options for cardio for the average wheelchair-user, a piece of equipment like this is priceless. The UBE is a feature of most medically-based fitness centers. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2017, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-any-gymns-have-exercise-machines-wheelchairs-can-use/790072/11 "2017-06-29T04:31:34Z")
Not quite what you’re asking, but there are wheelchair users in my Zumba classes. They modify the moves. One does the class with reasonably heavy dumbbells. ---
**Author:** ![bluezooky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e8c25b/32.png) [@bluezooky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bluezooky)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2017, 7:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-any-gymns-have-exercise-machines-wheelchairs-can-use/790072/12 "2017-06-29T07:02:02Z")
If you have physio centre for multiple sclerosis patents nearby they might have the machines, my dad can barely walk but does upper body exercises and they have a cycling machine he loves. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2017, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-any-gymns-have-exercise-machines-wheelchairs-can-use/790072/13 "2017-06-29T17:03:29Z")
Oh yeah, and wheelchairs don’t use exercise machines, the people in them do. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2017, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-any-gymns-have-exercise-machines-wheelchairs-can-use/790072/14 "2017-06-29T18:14:32Z")
I don’t any Gymn’s at all. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2017, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-any-gymns-have-exercise-machines-wheelchairs-can-use/790072/15 "2017-06-29T19:09:16Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > I don’t any Gymn’s at all. Yeah that’s a well-crafted thread title. Fo sho. 😛