Chapter 7: Individuals with disabilities

A strong rationale for the importance of PA is the many benefits stemming from being physically active. Researchers have documented improvements in fitness across home, community and research settings. Because people with disabilities often have associated secondary conditions (e.g., diabetes, pressure sores), PA is particularly important as a way to prevent or attenuate secondary conditions. In the following sections we note some of the major psychosocial benefits and barriers of PA participation to impress upon the reader how important, yet difficult, it is for individuals with disabilities to be physically active.