The “glass half empty/half full” metaphor is an appropriate way of looking at our world through the lens of accessibility. Barriers seem to exist – and persist – everywhere we look. It’s difficult not to get frustrated as the road to greater accessibility seemingly moves at a lazy snail’s pace. And yet, there are the occasional moments of surprise and mini triumph. A new ramp or elevator at a local building. The growing occurrence of automatic door buttons outside local businesses. A readier helping hand from those in the community. The glass may only be half full, but its contents today appear a little more enticing.
Adding to this “half full” perspective are some of the technological advances that have become mainstream over the last decade. Earlier this year, we looked at seven smartphone apps that can help those with disabilities, and ways to make your home more accessible using an AI voice assistant. Another breakthrough is the growing versatility of smartwatches, with these devices offering an exciting range of tools to monitor important health indicators. Simply strap one of these devices to your wrist and get readings and analysis on heart rate, activity level, sleep parameters and more.
Benefits of wearing a smartwatch for wheelchair users
There are a variety of tools on the market that can help monitor your health, but smartwatches offer many advantages over more traditional approaches. They’re relatively small and unobtrusive, so you can wear one 24/7 without giving it a second thought. The operating systems are typically easy to learn and use. For greater readability and analysis, they can be connected to your home computer so you can analyze all your readings and data in desktop comfort.
Many can double as a smartphone, so they can be used to make calls, check emails and keep track of appointments. They offer greater peace of mind for both the user and their loved ones, because they can generate an alert in the case of an emergency. Plus, unbelievable yet true, but they also tell the time!
Smartwatches are also an extremely smart way to improve a wheelchair user’s fitness level. All the watches listed below feature a built-in activity tracker, and can also be used to set up activity reminders and weight-shift alerts to help maintain consistent daily movement – especially useful for those at a higher risk of sedentary-related conditions such as pressure sores.
Best smartwatches for wheelchair users
For Apple aficionados Apple tops our list because it’s the only watch that offers a wheelchair mode (replaces steps with push counts) at the OS level. If you also have an Apple computer and/or an iPhone, an Apple Watch will offer seamless integration across devices.
For Android users Samsung introduced its first Galaxy Watch in 2018 and today’s version will take wheelchair users further than ever. The Galaxy Watch 8 offers AI-driven coaching and context-aware fitness suggestions with its built-in Gemini integration.
For Fitness lovers Garmin dominates the fitness category because it’s built for fitness first. The Garmin Vivoactive 5 offers serious health and fitness tools such as training load analysis, recovery time metrics and extremely accurate GPS and heart rate readings.
For Fitbit lovers The Google Pixel Watch 4 harmonizes the best of smartwatch and Fitbit technologies, offering a multi-path heart rate sensor that is ideal for wheelchair users, plus deep integration with the tried-and-true Fitbit fitness system.
Best smartwatch apps for wheelchair users
PushZones Exclusive to the Apple Watch, PushZones takes Apple’s wheelchair functionality one roll further with custom heart-rate zone workouts tailored to wheelchair activity. The app can be synced with Apple Health.
Wheel With Me Adapt Fit Created by wheelchair users Jesi Stracham and Nikki Walsh, this app leverages the design team’s insights to provide tailored training programs and community support. Workouts focus on seated movement, transfer-related strength and long-term independence.
SmartDrive PushTracker If you have a SmartDrive, the company’s PushTracker smartphone app is likely the top wheelchair-optimized activity app on the market. By interfacing with your SmartDrive unit, PushTracker provides accurate metrics for coast time, push count and distance. For smartwatch users, the company has developed the companion SmartDrive MX2+ app, which is compatible with both Apple and Android systems.
Strava One of the top-rated fitness apps used to track distance, time, speed, heart rate and more. Wheelchair users can use Strava to track rolling sessions, routes and progress, and join specialized communities for extra motivation.
Google Fit Samsung, Garmin and Fitbit users will all want to download the Google Fit app for fitness tracking. The app displays metrics like heart rate, distance and calories, and provides feedback and personalized coaching tips. Its use of Heart Points can be used to track activity level over traditional step counting.
Contact Kootenay Columbia Home Medical Equipment (KCHME) today
At KCHME, we’re here to help you move healthier at home and on the go. A smartwatch is a versatile and relatively low-cost tool that you can use for a variety of your daily needs while increasing your fitness level and overall wellness. If you’re looking for new ways to increase your horizons, we also offer a variety of wheelchair add-ons and accessories. Contact us today to learn more.