Exercise options are limited for people with disabilities Most gyms don’t offer the adaptive equipment they require A lack of exercise leaves them open to chronic illness, depression and anxiety MONDAY, Aug. 5, 2024 (HealthDay News) -- Many people with disabilities aren’t getting the exercise they need because fitness centers don’t offer adaptive equipment or staff trained in helping the disabled, a new review finds. There are few efforts by most commercial gyms to promote fitness for people with disabilities, said review author Alexandra Jamieson , a research scientist at The University of Texas at Arlington Research Institute.
“The biggest barriers to fitness are accessibility and cost,” Jamieson said in a university news release. “Standard gyms are not legally required to have adaptive machines for users of differing abilities. Plus, there is generally a lack of data about the demand for these adaptive machines that would help gyms justify the higher costs of adding them.
” About one in every six people (16%) live with a significant disability that affects their daily life, researchers wrote. But only about 40% of the disabled engage in regular physical activity, the review noted. As a result, they’re more likely to suffer from chronic illnesses like heart disease, stroke, diabetes or cancer, and are at higher risk for mental illnesses like depression and anxiety.
“Many people with disabilities struggle with psychological issues such as low self-esteem and.