Emily Metschke
HHP 291
Research Paper
Promoting Inclusive Physical Activity Communities for People with Disabilities
It is estimated that there are 40 to 50 million people in the United states who
have a disability (Rimmer & Schiller, 2008). Disabilities can include both visible and
internal conditions that challenge your participation in activities. Finding ways to include
those who suffer from disabilities into physical activity is important. In order to improve
the health of the whole nation, it is crucial to include those with disabilities in physical
activity. Those who suffer from disabilities may suffer from several health issues as well,
as a result of being inactive. However, those who chose to become involved can benefit
hugely from physical activity, once particular barriers they face have been overcome
and programs have been adjusted to include them in the activities.
Most people affected with disabilities are not achieving the recommended U.S.
goal of 30 minutes of exercise a day, five times a week (Rimmer & Schiller, 2008). The
low level of physical activity often leads into chronic conditions like diabetes, heart
disease and asthma on top of secondary conditions such as; pain, fatigue and weight
gain, which only make it more difficult for people to work out. Disabled individuals tend
to have more limitations and impairments resulting in a substantially poorer health
profile compered to the general population. Approximately twice as many adults with a
disability were physically inactive than adults without a disability (Rimmer & Schiller,
2008). One result of this is the increase in obesity among the disabled, which makes
activities of daily living even more difficult to perform. Sedentary lifestyles as
adolescents only worsen the natural aging process and make it harder to become
physically active and later on in life. It also makes accomplishable tasks significantly
more difficult later in life. Simple daily activities like, climbing stairs, walking with cane,
transferring into a car or wheel chair and other similar tasks all require physical fitness
in order to complete. This limits physical independence later on in life.
Adolescences facing disabilities were also twice as likely as non disabled youth
to report watching television for more than four hours a day. They also report lower
percentages involved in sports teams (Rimmer & Schiller, 2008). This behavior
generally follows into adulthood and leads to secondary conditions.
Many disabled face various barriers that keep them from becoming physically
active. These barriers include: cost of memberships, lack of information and non
accessible equipment. Such barriers result in insufficient physical activity. Also because
many disabilities come with different impairments like, hearing, sight, balance and
paralysis it makes exercising limited and even harder within many fitness environments
(Shield, Taylor, & Dodd, 2008). Group exercise classes also are too fast and don’t
provide correct equipment to meet their needs making it an inconvenience to participate
in these classes. A huge barrier especially with youth is the mere fact that disabled
citizens do not have as many opportunities as non disabled. This is especially the case
in many recreational sports leagues. The Special Olympics is one example of an
organization trying to get those with disabilities involved with sports and the benefits that
can come from the activities. Barriers like these must be identified and strategies to
overcome these barriers must be developed to promote physical activity by youth,
adults and seniors with disabilities (Rimmer & Schiller, 2008).
Physical activity has many benefits for the disabled that will help with the health
issues they face, as well as social, developmental and physical issues. One of the main
benefits it holds is the increase in a non sedentary lifestyle which will only help them
further on in the future (Ulrich, Burghardt, Lloyd, Tieman & Hornyak, 2001). Physical
activity can also help manage many disabilities such as arthritis, multiple sclerosis and
fibromyalgia (Martin & Hicks, 2007). In the elderly with disabilities specifically affecting
their arms, research showed that upper-extremity function improved with muscularskeletal exercise. It also showed that community based exercise training was beneficial
for people tested (Pang, Harris, & Eng, 2006). Physical activity also can help with their
social interaction. Thus decreasing the high likelihood of them becoming depressed. It
also is able to increase mood and reduce anxiety and stress (Shields et al., 2008).
Physical activities allow children to focus on their abilities and rejoice in their successes
instead of failures and their disabilities. It also helps later on in life in staying active and
in being able to do daily living activities (Martin & Hicks, 2007). Most importantly
physical activity is a way for anyone participating to have fun and interact with others in
a healthy environment.
In order for disabled people to successfully participate in physical activities health
and fitness professionals need to accommodate them and make adaptions to their
facilities. It is important to understand that what non disabled people may find easy, can
be a challenge for the disabled. Rimmer and Schiller developed a framework for
addressing challenges that keep the disabled away from physical activity. The acronym
RAMP is used, Restoring, Activity, Mobility and Participation, to reflect the need to
create a barrier free environment for those with disabilities (Rimmer & Schiller, 2008).
Each component build on the previous one, the first model is access. This refers to
offering an opportunity to use typical exercise equipment. The most common access
issues involve physical access like getting the person on the equipment and giving them
the ability to get use out of the whole facility (Rimmer & Schiller, 2008). Examples of
making it more accessible would be to make pathways clear of obstacles, wheel chair
accessible entrances and locker rooms, simple things to accommodate them and make
them feel like they belong. The next component focuses on participation. This involves
healthful levels of physical activity by people with disabilities. Once equipment is made
accessible they need to make it available and inform them on the uses of it and provide
programs and groups so that they can learn proper techniques and want to be active.
The third part of the model addresses the issue of the disable continuing to stay
active. Being active is a lifestyle, and as long as people continue to stay physically
active the health benefits will decrease the chances of consequences from being
inactive (Martin & Hicks, 2007).
The final part of the RAMP addresses health an function. The importance of this
aspect is to find effective measuring methods to monitor physical activity. It is important
to keep in mind the importance for the exercise in the persons unique lifestyle (Rimmer
& Schiller, 2008). Building a program for individuals based on the RAMP model will aid
health professionals in starting and keeping disable people involved in physical activity.
An important goal for health and fitness professionals is to target people with
disabilities who underutilize fitness centers and get them physically active.
Professionals must get connected with the community, in order for the community as
whole to be healthier.
The ultimate goal is to improve the quality of life and lower the risk of secondary
and chronic health condition by becoming physically active. In order to increase
participation steps must be taken to remove barriers and provide ways that disabled
people can easily use fitness facilities and be a part of physical activity. The benefits in
doing so will only decrease health problem arising in sedentary disabled people.
Overall, being active promotes self-dependence and improves the quality of their life.
References
Martin, K., & Hicks, A. (2007). Considerations for the development of a Physical Activity
Guide for Canadian with Physical Disabilities. Applied Physiology, Nutrition and
Metabolism, 32,137-147. Retrieved from http://web.ebscohost.com.
Pang, M., Harris, J., & Eng, J. (2006). A Community-Based Upper-Extremity Group
Exercise Program Improves Motor Function and Performance of Functional
Activities in Chronic Stroke. Arch Phys Med Rehabil., 87 (1), 1-9. Retrieved from
http://www.ncpad.org
Rimmer, J., & Schiller, W. (2008). Promoting Inclusive Physical Activity Communities for
People with Disabilities. Research Digest, 9 (2), 1-8. Retrieved from
https://www.presidentschallenge.org/
Shields, N., & Taylor,N., & Dodd, K. (2008). Effects of Community Based Progressive
Resistance Training Program on Muscle Performance & Physical Function in
Adults with Down Syndrome. Arch Phys Med Rehabil., 89 (7), 1214-20.
Retrieved from http://www.ncpad.org
Ulrich, D., Burghardt, A., Lloyd, M., Tieman, C. & Hornyak, J. (2011). Physical Activity
Benefits of Learning to Ride a Two-Wheel Bicycle for Children with Down
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www.ncpad.org