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 The importance of physical activity
for women with disabilities cannot be overstated.
Physical activity can prevent or delay
many of the secondary conditions that often complicate disability, such as heart
disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, osteoporosis, obesity, and depression.
It can help control the pain of arthritis and help maintain healthy muscles and
joints.
Healthy People 2010 and the
1996 Surgeon General's Report on Physical Activity and Health cite the
benefits of physical activity to overall health and well-being. However,
people with disabilities are less physically active than people without
disabilities. Women with disabilities must contend with attitudes that
assume people with disabilities cannot or do not need to exercise.
Finding an accessible gym can be a
challenge. Health clubs should have accessible parking, automatic doors,
wide aisles, and accessible showers, lockers, and pools, Adaptive exercise
equipment includes roll-in strength training machines, hand cycles, and
underwater exercise equipment. Staff should be trained to be sensitive to
the needs of people with disabilities and to assist people with disabilities
when necessary.
The Surgeon General's Report
emphasized that inactive people can improve their health with even moderate
increases in regular activity.
Resources
"Exercise for People with
Disabilities: Getting Started on Your Fitness Plan" presents a
convincing case for the importance of physical activity and provides the tools
to make it happen: A goals chart, activity log, list of exercise videos
for people with disabilities, and a detailed personal physical activity plan
form. The booklet is funded by CDC and available from the Research and
Training Center on Independent Living at the University of Kansas. Visit
http://www.rtcil.org or call (785) 864-4095.
"Removing Barriers to Health Clubs
and Fitness Facilities: A Guide for Accommodating All Members, Including People
with Disabilities and Older Adults" makes the case for health clubs to make
their facilities welcoming to people with disabilities. The CDC-funded
booklet reviews Americans with Disabilities Act standards for design and gives
specific recommendations for improving accessibility of fitness faculties,
choosing equipment, and assisting people with disabilities. The
publication is available from the North Carolina Office on Disability and
Health. Visit
www.fpg.unc.edu/~ncodh/ or call (919) 966-0868.
The National Center on Physical
Activity and Disability, funded by CDC, is a good starting place for women
with disabilities, health-care providers, public health practitioners, and
disability and service organizations to learn more about physical activity and
disability. This national clearinghouse provides a large number of
resources, ranging from research to instructional videos to discussion groups.
Visit www.ncpad.org or call (800) 900-8086.
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