Publication Date
1-3-2025
DOI
10.31986/issn.2578.3343_vol7iss1.1
First Page
1
Last Page
7
Abstract
Background: Adults with an ambulatory disability are at higher risk of obesity and sequalae from obesity than aged-matched adults without disability. Research shows adults with an ambulatory disability are less likely to participate in the recommended 150 minutes of physical activity per week than non-disabledadults. Availability ofadaptive exercise could help increase physical activity participation in adults with ambulatory disability.
Objective: This observational study examines the availability of adaptive exercise programs throughout the United States and determines how it relates to the population of adults with an ambulatory disability.
Methods: Adaptive exercise sites (n=268) were identified via internet searches to form a comprehensive database. Population data were collected from the US Census Bureau. Statistical analysis (one-way ANOVA, Fisher’s LSD) was completed to determine the significance of adaptive exercise programing deficits among different regions of the United States.
Results: A total of 268 adaptive exercise sites throughout the United States were identified and evaluated. On average, 8.13% ± 1.65% of each state’s population ≥ 18 years of age has an ambulatory disability. Each state had an average of 2.68 ± 3.81 sites per 100,000 people with an ambulatory disability.
Conclusions: Areas within the United States with high populations of adults with ambulatory disability do not have sufficient availability of adaptive exercise programs.Increasing the availability of physical sports has a wide-range of impact – not only to reduce morbidity – but also to improve public health, foster social and community connections, and optimize mental health of vulnerable populations. This study found that the proportion of state population with an ambulatory disability and availability of adaptive exercise sites within each state were negatively correlated. Our research provides a novel understanding of the availability of adaptive exercise programs and the prevalence of ambulatory disability by geographic region. This work paves the way for more in-depth exploration of potential mismatches of need and resources within vulnerable populations.
Suggested Reviewers
Brooke.salzman@jefferson.edu, Emily.hajjar@jefferson.edu
Recommended Citation
Cullather, Erin and Hersh, Lauren R.
(2025)
"Assessing the Availability of Adaptive Exercise for Adults with Ambulatory Disability,"
Cooper Rowan Medical Journal: Vol. 7:
Iss.
1, Article 1.
DOI: 10.31986/issn.2578.3343_vol7iss1.1
Available at:
https://rdw.rowan.edu/crjcsm/vol7/iss1/1
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
