Disabilities and Physical Activity << Tools to Help You Get Started << WOMAN Activity Tracker << womenshealth.gov

4,129 people and 385 teams are participating in the WOMAN Activity Tracker!

Here is what others are saying about the
WOMAN Activity Tracker & the 2008 WOMAN Challenge!

(View all comments and share your success!)

"Well, here I am in the last three days of week six...lost 23 pounds, can walk up the hill to my home without stopping or gasping for air, and I FEEL better physically and emotionally! If I can do this, any woman can do this!"

Learn about other
teams in our
Team Showcase!

(View all team profiles and share your team's success!)

Name:
Hotsteppers

Team Size:
5

Locations:
Illinois, Missouri

"What a way to motivate women! It really is important to be healthy. Being a nurse, I need to follow the advice I give my patients. Having my daughter participate with me is really setting an example for healthy living. It is also very nice to have her by my side!"

Disabilities and Physical Activity

Being physically active is an important part of a healthy lifestyle for all women, including women with disabilities. If you have a disability, getting regular physical activity can help you stay independent by preventing illnesses such as heart disease that can make it more difficult to take care of yourself. Being active also can improve your mood and help you feel better about yourself.

Photo of a person wearing an armband pedometer.

If you use a wheelchair, walker, or cane, you can still use a pedometer to record your physical activity. But instead of wearing it on your belt to measure foot steps, you can wear it on a band around your arm or wrist to measure arm movements. Make sure the band is snug but not so tight that it causes pain or discomfort. Also, you may want to wear the band over a shirt to keep it from irritating your skin. If you have questions about using an armband pedometer, please contact The National Center on Physical Activity and Disability.

If you have not been active for some time, be sure to talk with your doctor before starting a physical activity program. Together, you can work out an activity plan that's right for you.

For more information on physical activity for people with disabilities, visit womenshealth.gov's Illnesses and Disabilities section.

Content last updated June 25, 2008.