A new year means new fitness goals. But options for people with disability are few and far between
Adults living with disability can experience a range of benefits from participating in community-based physical activities such as dance, Tai Chi and yoga, our recently published review found.
- Adults living with disability can experience a range of benefits from participating in community-based physical activities such as dance, Tai Chi and yoga, our recently published review found.
- Yet adults with disability are less physically active than those without disability, with inclusive community-based physical activities few and far between.
- This puts people with disability at increased risk of further disability.
Benefits of physical activity
- Our systematic review included 74 trials with 2,954 men and women living with mild-to-moderate physical and intellectual disability.
- All but one of these physical activities were delivered in condition-specific groups (for example, a group for people with Parkinson’s disease).
- Benefits included improvements in walking, balance and quality of life, and reductions in fatigue, depression and anxiety.
Considerations for physical recreation in the community
- Some physical recreation activities included in the review used adjustments and extra equipment to be suitable for people with disability.
- Most local community-based recreation groups should be able make simple adjustments to meet the needs of people living with mild to moderate disability.
- It may also limit the confidence of the person with disability to join a local class.
Access to services is a basic right
- Australia also has a Disability Discrimination Act (1992).
- But this seems to provide little incentive for services to take active measures to prevent disability discrimination.
The commission’s final report recommended strengthening laws to protect people with disability, prevent discrimination, and build a more inclusive society. Momentum and expectation is growing in Australian society for better inclusion for people living with disability.
So what can we do for better physical activity inclusion?
- First, more physical activity options suitable for people with disability are needed in the community.
- People with disability will then be able to choose an activity that suits their needs and preference.
- Second, community-based physical activities need to enable the person with disability to access the setting safely and have equipment suitable to use.
- Anne Tiedemann has received funding from the National Health and Medical Research Council and the Medical Research Future Fund.
- Cathie Sherrington has received funding from the National Health and Medical Research Council and the Medical Research Future Fund.