Here's How to Get Fit When Living with a Physical Disability

Shepherd Center embraces a total approach to fitness and wellness that emphasizes physical and mental wellbeing.

The hospital's facilities include a weight room, indoor track, full-court gymnasium and swimming pool. Through land and aquatic classes, personalized programs, massage, yoga and personal training, Shepherd Center attempts to improve its members’ fitness and quality of life.

The facility is completely accessible to allow people with physical disabilities to participate in all programs, as appropriate. Professionally trained and certified staff members are available to ensure that all members receive the highest quality assistance. Shepherd also introduces inpatients and day program patients to its fitness center, including aquatics, to give them the tools and knowledge to participate in their community fitness centers after discharge from the hospital.

In this new 10-minute podcast from Shepherd Center Radio, fitness center and Beyond Therapy manager Rebecca Washburn, M.S., discusses how health and wellness before a person’s injury is important, but even more important following injury to maintain strength, endurance and prevent secondary complications. This podcast and others from Shepherd Center Radio are available here or as download from the link above.

Washburn is the manager of Shepherd Center’s Beyond Therapy® program and ProMotion fitness center. She has worked at Shepherd Center for 16 years. Washburn holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Southern Connecticut State University.

More information on Shepherd Center's fitness center is available here.