Why You Should Listen to the "Older" Wheelchair Users

If you've been in a wheelchair for any length of time, you've probably heard the same advice over and over:

"Take care of your shoulders."

"Watch your skin."

"Do your pressure reliefs."

"Be careful with transfers."

After a while, it can start to feel repetitive. Maybe even annoying.

I understand that perspective because I was once the person hearing those warnings and thinking, "That won't be me."

I was injured at 13 years old. Today, I'm approaching three decades in a wheelchair. That's a strange place to be because while I've spent most of my life living with a spinal cord injury, I still don't necessarily feel old. I can remember exactly what it was like being young, wanting to experience life, and not wanting to hear constant reminders about what could go wrong.

When you're young, whether you're newly injured or simply younger in age, it's easy to believe that problems happen to other people. It's easy to think you'll be the exception. Many of us viewed those warnings as limitations rather than lessons. What I've come to realize is that most long-time wheelchair users aren't trying to scare anyone. They're not trying to convince you to stay home, avoid adventures, or spend your life wrapped in bubble wrap.

They're trying to save you from learning every lesson the hard way.

We Were Once in Your Position

One thing younger wheelchair users sometimes forget is that the people giving the advice were once young too.

They played sports.

They traveled.

They pushed limits.

They transferred thousands of times.

They skipped pressure reliefs.

They ignored minor skin issues.

They thought shoulder pain would just go away.

The reason they repeat the same advice isn't because they're out of touch. It's because they've seen the long-term consequences that aren't obvious when you're 18, 25, or even 35 years old.

Experience has a way of teaching lessons that youth often ignores.

Taking Care of Your Shoulders Doesn't Mean Avoiding Life

One of the most common pieces of advice you'll hear is to take care of your shoulders.

Unfortunately, some people hear that and assume it means they should avoid activities.

That's not what most people mean.

Your shoulders become your primary source of mobility. They help you transfer, push your chair, load your wheelchair into a vehicle, play sports, work, and care for your family.

Taking care of them doesn't mean doing less.

It means doing things smarter.

It means learning proper transfer techniques.

It means maintaining strength and flexibility.

It means building the muscles that support your shoulders.

There are many adaptive fitness professionals and trainers who specialize in this area and can provide guidance far better than I can.

The goal isn't to stop living. The goal is to keep doing the things you love for as long as possible.

Your Skin Deserves Attention Too

Skin care is another topic that often gets repeated.

Again, it can feel like overkill until you've experienced a serious issue.

The reality is that skin breakdown can happen quickly and sometimes from something that seemed insignificant at the time.

A small cut.

A bruise.

A rough transfer.

Scooting across a surface.

Spending too much time on something hard.

Many people don't realize how quickly a minor issue can become a major setback.

Taking care of your skin doesn't mean living in 

fear. It simply means paying attention.

Inspect your skin.

Avoid unnecessary risks.

Use good cushions and equipment.

Address problems early.

A little prevention can save months—or even years—of recovery.

Don't Mistake Advice for Negativity

Sometimes warnings can sound negative when they're repeated often.

But there's a difference between negativity and wisdom.

Most long-time wheelchair users aren't saying, "Don't do that."

They're saying, "I've done that, and here's what I learned."

That's valuable.

In a world where many lessons are learned through experience, some lessons are worth borrowing from others.

My Advice

Be young.

Go on the trip.

Play the sport.

Take the adventure.

Push your limits.

Live your life.

Don't let fear stop you.

But don't automatically dismiss the advice of people who've been living this life for decades.

They aren't trying to hold you back.

They're trying to help you stay healthy enough to keep moving forward.

The truth is that many of us ignored some of the same advice when we were younger.

And if we could go back and tell our younger 

selves one thing, it would probably be this:

"I should have listened a little sooner."

You don't have to make every mistake yourself to learn from it.

Sometimes the smartest thing you can do is listen to someone who's already walked—or rolled—the road ahead of you.