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A Report of the Surgeon General
Physical Activity and Health
Persons with Disabilities
KEY MESSAGES:
- Physical activity need not be strenuous
to achieve health benefits.
- Significant health benefits can
be obtained with a moderate amount of physical activity,
preferably daily. The same moderate amount of activity
can be obtained in longer sessions of moderately intense
activities (such as 3040 minutes of wheeling
oneself in a wheelchair) or in shorter sessions of
more strenuous activities (such as 20 minutes of wheelchair
basketball).
- Additional health benefits can
be gained through greater amounts of physical activity.
People who can maintain a regular routine of physical
activity that is of longer duration or of greater
intensity are likely to derive greater benefit.
- Previously sedentary people who
begin physical activity programs should start with
short intervals of physical activity (510 minutes)
and gradually build up to the desired level of activity.
- People with disabilities should
first consult a physician before beginning a program
of physical activity to which they are unaccustomed.
- The emphasis on moderate amounts
of physical activity makes it possible to vary activities
to meet individual needs, preferences, and life circumstances.
FACTS:
- People with disabilities are less
likely to engage in regular moderate physical activity
than people without disabilities, yet they have similar
needs to promote their health and prevent unnecessary
disease.
- Social support from family and
friends has been consistently and positively related
to regular physical activity.
BENEFITS OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY:
- Reduces the risk of dying from
coronary heart disease and of developing high blood
pressure, colon cancer, and diabetes.
- Can help people with chronic, disabling
conditions improve their stamina and muscle strength.
- Reduces symptoms of anxiety and
depression, improves mood, and promotes general feelings
of well-being.
- Helps control joint swelling and
pain associated with arthritis.
- Can help reduce blood pressure
in some people with hypertension.
WHAT COMMUNITIES CAN DO:
- Provide community-based programs
to meet the needs of persons with disabilities.
- Ensure that environments and facilities
conducive to being physically active are available
and accessible to people with disabilities, such as
offering safe, accessible, and attractive trails for
bicycling, walking, and wheelchair activities.
- Ensure that people with disabilities
are involved at all stages of planning and implementing
community physical activity programs.
- Provide quality, preferably daily,
K12 accessible physical education classes for
children and youths with disabilities.
- Encourage health care providers
to talk routinely to their patients with disabilities
about incorporating physical activity into their lives.
For more information contact:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health
Promotion
Division of Nutrition and Physical Activity, MS K-46
4770 Buford Highway, NE
Atlanta, GA 30341-3724
1-888-CDC-4NRG or 1-888-232-4674 (Toll Free)
http://www.cdc.gov
The Presidents Council on Physical
Fitness and Sports
200 Independence Avenue, SW
Room 738H
Washington, DC 20201
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