Currently, there is very little information on the physical activity profiles of specific subgroups of persons with disabilities. For example, most research on spinal cord injury (SCL) has involved laboratory testing on such parameters as oxygen consumption, functional electrical stimulation, cardiac output, and thermoregulation. There are no large data sets on physical activity among this group, nor are there any data sets on the long-term benefits of physical activity among active persons with SCI. The same is true for most groups of persons with physical or mental disabilities.
Determine the barriers and determinants of physical activity among different subgroups of persons with disabilities.
In a paper delivered at a recent American College of Sports Medicine conference. Heath noted that there is little information on the barriers and determinants of physical activity among persons with disabilities. Clearly, there is a pressing need to track the physical activity patterns in persons with disabilities, in order to establish a better understanding of the dynamics involved in increasing the physical activity levels in a segment of the population that is generally unemployed, inactive, housebound, poor, and limited in motor or cognitive function, and to also determine if this can be improved through intervention strategies.
There is an urgent need to develop field-based assessment tools that are reliable, valid, and easy to administer for persons with disabilities. For example, in the area of body composition, it has not been clearly determined if regression equations used to predict percent body fat are accurate for persons with SCI, cerebral palsy, or individuals with Down syndrome. There is also little information on the accuracy of submaximal cardiovascular fitness tests developed on nondisabled populations when used with persons with disabilities. In order to prescribe physical activity for persons with disabilities, future research must focus on developing valid and reliable assessment tools that can be used in field-based settings.
Identify the secondary complications associated with physical inactivity in persons with disabilities.
Since most individuals with disabilities appear to have a higher level of inactivity than the general population, there is a stronger likelihood that secondary complications may result from this sedentary lifestyle. Data are needed on the incidence of coronary heart disease, obesity, Type II diabetes, osteoporosis, hypertension, and depression in different subgroups of persons with disabilities. These conditions could exacerbate the disability and impose a greater burden on an individual's energy resources.
Assessing the fitness levels of persons with disabilities and comparing the results with data on nondisabled persons may be inappropriate. For example, persons with SCI may have lower peak VO2, because of some degree of autonomic dysfunction. Due to damaged lung tissue, an individual with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), such as emphysema, will not have the same cardiorespiratory fitness level as a person who does not suffer from a lung obstruction. Therefore, it may be useful for individuals with disabilities to have two reference points. The first reference point would address the proximity of their fitness level to other persons of the same age and gender who are not disabled, and the second reference point could be used to compare their fitness level with individuals with the same or similar impairment. Large data sets on persons with different disabilities are needed in order to compare individuals with the same disability.
Design and test intervention strategies to promote physical activity for persons with disabilities.
There is a pressing need to establish successful intervention strategies that keep persons with disabilities involved in physical activity. Since many individuals who have a chronic disease do not consider themselves candidates for an exercise program, they often do not make an effort to become involved in community-based fitness programs.