People living with Disability should exercise more

Paul Kalungi is a public health specialist at Butabika Hospital and a founder of Mindful Horizons Training Associates, an organisation that helps people with disabilities and mental health to get back on their feet.  

Kalungi who also lost a leg in an accident 10 years ago shared with Maureen Nakatudde the need for People Living with Disability to be involved in physical fitness. Here is what he had to say:

Disability at an old age is very hard to cope with. It is the hardest thing one can accept. In hospitals, people fight to keep their legs, but it is impossible. They fear discrimination that comes with it.

So, some PWDs are kept indoors or in one place, and in the end, this brings them problems like weight gain. Their guardians or caregivers always offer them all the support they need. But in doing so, they are simply crippling them.

Besides, when they cut off your limbs, you experience phantom pain. It is that pain that occurs as if you are experiencing the loss of that body part again. If you do not exercise, phantom pains can be very bad. These can come when they are very aggressive and acute, thus disorganising your entire life.

People who have metals in their bodies are not allowed to exercise in those areas because that will hurt them.

On my side, I exercise three times a week by going to the gym and swimming. This has helped me to be stronger, and more confident and also beat stress.

Being disabled does not mean that you won’t get lifestyle diseases like high blood pressure, diabetes, and cancer. A person living with a disability should try to do everything by themselves. This will not only give them a reason to live, but they will become physically stronger and in the long run busk in good health.