Physical Activity among People with Disabilities: A Global Perspective
Creators: name: Heath, Gregory
name: Van Der Ploeg, Hidde
name: Ng, Kwok
name: McBride, Christopher
name: Martin Ginis, Kathleen
Publisher: name: The Health & Fitness Journal of Canada
Year: 2022

description: Purpose: As a population, people with disabilities (PWD) experience poorer health which is associated with lower levels of physical activity (PA) compared to the general population. The purpose of this symposium is to provide an update and overview of the global prevalence of physical activity among PWD, the role of policies in supporting PA among PWD, and the status of evidence-based interventions to promote PA among PWD. Description: This symposium provides an overview of the current knowledge regarding the patterns of PA among PWD; the role of policies in providing opportunities for and inclusion of PWD in PA by creating active living environments; and a review of effective physical activity promotion interventions among PWD living in low, middle, and high-income countries. Chair: Dr. Gregory W. Heath, University of Tennessee, Chattanooga, USA. Introduction to the Symposium. Presenter 1: Dr. Hidde van der Ploeg, Amsterdam University Medical Centres, The Netherlands. Title: Global Patterns of Physical Activity among PWD. Description: Summary of the epidemiology of PA among adults with disabilities, especially those meeting the WHO recommended levels of PA. Review of the accrued health benefits of PA among PWD and the association of physical inactivity and selected non-communicable disease (NCD) outcomes. Presenter 2: Dr. Kwok Ng, University of Limerick, Republic of Ireland. Title: Global Patterns of Physical Activity among Children and Youth with Disabilities: Transport, Recreation, and Sport. Description: Summary of the global pattern of PA among children and youth with disabilities. A focus on modes, opportunities, and settings. Presenter 3: Dr. Christopher B. McBride, Spinal Cord Injury British Columbia, Canada. Title: Integrated Knowledge Translation Approaches: An essential step for Global Physical Activity Policy Development. Description: The importance of policy development directed towards PA research and promotion among PWD will be explored considering needed essential input and guidance from among PWD. Presenter 4: Dr. Kathleen A. Martin Ginis, The University of British Columbia, Canada. Title: Effectiveness of Physical Activity Interventions among PWD.” Description: A systematic review of the factors, determinants, and barriers related to PA participation among PWD and effective intervention strategies designed to increase PA among PWD. Results: The proportion of people meeting the WHO PA recommendations is much lower among PWD than in the general population; PWD can achieve significant health benefits from PA participation well below the 150 min/week guideline; Disability sport continues to grow and may play a role in promoting empowerment, social inclusion and social participation of PWD worldwide; Theory-based interventions are needed to target barriers at all levels of the social ecological model in order to increase both the quantity and quality of PA participation among PWD; Current policies lack explicit plans on how to ensure and uphold the rights of PWD to full and effective participation in PA. Conclusions: International coordinated efforts are needed to measure and monitor PA levels among PWD; Epidemiologic studies are needed to examine the association between PA and risk of NCD among PWD; Research on PA among PWD lags behind PA research in the general population; The majority of extant data on PA and PWD has been collected in HIC, thus improved data collection among LMIC must be a priority; PWD need to be meaningfully engaged in developing the research and policy agendas to advance PA knowledge and participation among PWD globally; Deliberate progress towards the UN sustainable development goal of healthy lives and well-being for all needs to be pursued across the globe.
description: The Health &amp; Fitness Journal of Canada, Vol. 14 No. 3 (2021): Proceedings from the 8th International Society for Physical Activity and Health Congress