“A lot of people who have been at the Glenrose hit peak fitness in rehab,” says Krissy Dooling, a physical therapist at the Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital in Edmonton. “But then they go home and don’t know how to continue.”

Getting Motivated, Finding Information
Will Steblyk agrees with Dooling. He says it can be hard to get started on a physical activity program for everyday life when you have a disability. Steblyk has had two amputations on one of his legs: first below the knee and then above it.

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“People with amputations or other disabilities need motivation when first starting physical activity again, just like anyone else,” says Steblyk, who is a keen golfer. “And they need information about how to access physical activity programs.”

Steblyk, 46, recently went to a swim clinic organized by the Franklin-Northern Alberta Amputee Program (NAAP) and the Alberta Amputee Sports and Recreation Association (AASRA).

Steblyk says that going to the swim clinic encouraged him to investigate what services some pools and activity centres now have compared to years ago. He was happy to find private dressing rooms, shower rooms with seats, and better ways to access the pool at some facilities.

Activity Clinics Available
Dooling is one of the activity coordinators for Franklin-NAAP. This non-profit group has a broad mandate to improve the lives of amputees and has promoted several Active Amputee Clinics as a resource for people seeking to increase their physical activity.

Encouraging amputees and people with other disabilities to enter the community again is an important objective of the activity clinics, explains Dooling.

Recent events promoted by Franklin-NAAP include kayak, climbing wall and ski clinics. Like the swim clinic co-organized with the AASRA, Franklin-NAAP often works with other groups (see Learn More) to broaden the range of available clinics.

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“People can be intimidated at first to do things out of the home,” Dooling says. “We show them that there are public spaces that can be accessed and different groups to go with. They can still do the things they did before. They just change how they do it.”

The Active Amputee Clinics sponsored by Franklin-NAAP are free of charge to the participants. Many other organizations have reduced rates for people with physical disabilities.

Sports and Fitness Help You Recover
Shannon Neufeld, who is a double amputee, encourages anyone with a disability to become active. “It makes you stronger, it can improve your balance, and it’s good for you mentally and emotionally.”

For herself, it is crucial to her well-being.

“It’s a necessity—if I don’t stay active, my health will be limited in the future,” she says.

In 2007, Neufeld, 36, spent 10 months in the hospital seriously ill. She found it incredibly frustrating to not be able to be active during that time. Since then, she has participated in a 5K walk for breast cancer. She has kayaked while on holiday, and she goes to the gym three or four times a week. She has also participated in several of the activity clinics.

“Getting out and being active allows me to not feel so closed in, especially in winter. My heart and mind need this activity,” she says.

Helping Each Other
Participating in physical activities or team sports can show amputees what else is out there. You can gain information about activities and recreation opportunities from people in the clinics. You can also learn techniques that can make it easier to participate in certain activities, such as wearing a type of sleeve to cover your leg when you go in the water.

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“You learn from others how they lead their everyday lives, things that can help you,” says Steblyk. He has also found that trying an activity with other amputees helps everyone gain confidence.

“People with disabilities can feel very self-conscious. I was a bit unsure about swimming in a busy pool at first. Going with other amputees alleviated some of those feelings,” he says. “If a person with a disability feels comfortable, they are likely to try the activity again and then perhaps do it on a regular basis.”

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Learn More
Alberta Amputee Sports and Recreation Association
This organization connects people with sports activities in Calgary, Edmonton, Lethbridge, Red Deer and other places in Alberta.

Franklin–Northern Alberta Amputee Program
This non-profit organization helps provide amputees with opportunities for physical activity. It also works with patients and health care providers to improve community support, education and research. It was co-founded by Master Corporal Paul Franklin and Dr. Jackie Hebert.

Wheelchair Sports Alberta
Do you want to try wheelchair sports? Look for Alberta’s new program called “Bridging the Gap – Getting Physically Active.”

Rick Hansen Foundation
The Rick Hansen Foundation has national programs that support people with physical disabilities, such as Wheels In Motion and the Ambassador Program.

The Steadward Centre, University of Alberta
The Steadward Centre is a disability research centre that provides sports and physical activity programs for children, youth and adults with disabilities.