Sport and disability

General health

The beneficial effects of exercise are well established in relation to general health and in regard to prevention or management of specific disease processes--for example, non-insulin dependent diabetes. People with physical disabilities are less likely to avail themselves of these benefits for a variety of reasons that include cultural and social factors, facilities, and access. Participation in sport is not essential but it is important that people with disabilities are encouraged to remain physically active. Accumulating evidence shows that people with disabilities who are more physically active visit doctors less and have fewer medical complications and hospitalisations than their sedentary counterparts. Paraplegic athletes are more successful than non-athletes in avoiding major medical complications of spinal cord injury. The same message of the accumulation of at least 30 minutes of moderate intensity activity on at least five days of the week is equally applicable to someone with a disability. The same principles of …