Are gyms fit for all? A scoping review of the barriers and facilitators to gym-based exercise participation experienced by people with physical disabilities

Sharon-David, Hila; Siekańska, Małgorzata; Tenenbaum, Gershon

doi:10.1016/j.peh.2020.100170

Cited by 19 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 63 publications

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“…The current results are almost in line with a recent scoping review on gym-based exercise engagement among people with physical disabilities [142], as the reported barriers were lack of gym accessibility, oppressive attitudes within gyms, and also lack of social support during exercising, while the facilitators were reported to be enhanced opportunities to interact with others in the gym settings. That review included 15 papers, and only three of those were included in the current scoping review due to its narrow scope of fitness centre settings, compared with a broader scope in a variety of leisure time and fitness settings.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 89%

Barriers to, and Facilitators of, Exercising in Fitness Centres among Adults with and without Physical Disabilities: A Scoping Review

Nikolajsen

Sandal

Juhl

et al. 2021

IJERPH

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Fitness centres are an obvious arena for performing physical activity for the general population but representation of adults with physical disabilities (AwPD) is lacking. To increase possibilities for AwPD to exercise in fitness centres together with adults without physical disabilities (AwoPD), the aim of this study was to identify, synthesise, and compare barriers to, and facilitators of, exercising in fitness centres for each group. A scoping review was conducted and data extraction of the barriers and facilitators was performed independently by two researchers on six categories of contextual factors based on the framework of Di Blasi: (1) The fitness centre setting; (2) The fitness centre user characteristics; (3) The fitness instructor/staff characteristics; (4) The fitness centre user–instructor/management relationship; and (5) The fitness/exercise characteristics. An extra category, (6) Other relationships, was added. The PRISMA Extension for Scoping Reviews was used for reporting. Of the 102 included papers, only 26 (25%) of the papers were on AwPD, which focused mainly on physical barriers (category 1: inaccessible settings). In contrast, the remaining 76 papers involving AwoPD focused primarily on facilitators (category 2: motivational factors and exercising effects). In categories 3–6, the two groups had similar results, as both groups preferred skilled instructors, a welcoming and comfortable fitness centre environment, an ability to exercise at their preferred type and level, and good social connections. Since most data were based on AwoPD, more studies on actual experiences from AwPD are needed, to reveal the facilitators/motivational factors for fitness centre use.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 89%

Barriers to, and Facilitators of, Exercising in Fitness Centres among Adults with and without Physical Disabilities: A Scoping Review

Nikolajsen

Sandal

Juhl

et al. 2021

IJERPH

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“…However, barriers for people with disabilities is reported when wanting to participate in gym-based exercising e.g. lack of accessibility, lack of social support, oppressive attitudes within gyms [ 7 , 65 ], and further, instructors/staff have a key role in promoting inclusiveness or the opposite [ 66 , 67 ] in fitness centres. Less has been written about the overt and unconscious ableism that must also be addressed to craft inclusive fitness spaces.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…like ball games) or physical fitness level [ 6 ]. However, they are perceived as a particularly exclusive space by people with disabilities [ 7 ]. Using a critical disability studies lens and contesting conditions of ableism and disablism in society [ 8 ], numerous complex and interrelated phenomena illuminate why people with disabilities are excluded and underrepresented in fitness centres [ 9 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Over the last 2 decades, research has focused on identification of barriers and facilitators of disability inclusion in fitness settings (e.g. [ 1 , 7 ]). This dearth of research shows that over this time, little has changed as the same structural, attitudinal, and relational issues such as no access, ableist and disablist interaction are continually reported [ 1 , 2 , 7 , 13 , 17 , 22 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…[ 1 , 7 ]). This dearth of research shows that over this time, little has changed as the same structural, attitudinal, and relational issues such as no access, ableist and disablist interaction are continually reported [ 1 , 2 , 7 , 13 , 17 , 22 ]. As a result, scholars have called for academics to move beyond these types of exploratory studies as, at this point, findings are merely repetitive and descriptive as the inclusion of people with disabilities has changed so little adopting this approach [ 23 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Fitness for all: how do non-disabled people respond to inclusive fitness centres?

Nikolajsen

Richardson

Sandal

et al. 2021

BMC Sports Sci Med Rehabil

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Background Representation of people with disabilities in fitness centres is lacking, despite initiatives to promote inclusion mainly in the UK and USA. Success creating these inclusive spaces is mixed and few were crafted taking into account attitudes and biases of non-disabled co-members. Inclusive fitness centres have not gained much attention in Denmark, and the campaign ‘Fitness for All - fitness for people with physical disabilities’ was initiated. The aim of this study was shaped by two key questions; 1) what is the ideal fitness space from the perception of non-disabled fitness users? and 2) how might their dis/ableist attitudes negate inclusion in three future pilot inclusive fitness centres across Denmark? Method Three focus groups involving 5–7 (total n = 18) adult non-disabled participants were conducted. Aged ranged between 19 and 75 years, both men and women were involved, with fitness centre experiences ranging from 0 to 20+ years. Interviews were transcribed and analysed using Malterud’s four-step method of systematic text condensation. Results Of most importance was a pleasant atmosphere which should make them feel welcome and comfortable. Good social relations within the space were also highly valued. Participants welcomed people with physical disabilities but predicted many challenges with an inclusive fitness centre and expressed unconscious ableist attitudes. Conclusion The current study adds essential knowledge regarding how non-disabled people perceive the ideal inclusive fitness centre. A welcoming and inviting atmosphere is essential whereas social skills, ableism, ignorance, and preconceptions are important barriers that may hinder inclusion of participants with disabilities in inclusive fitness centres.

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Access & Crisis: Disrupting Ableist Definitions of Physical Activity & Culture

Olsen

Cork

Greenberg

et al. 2023

Global Culture and Sport Series

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Are gyms fit for all? A scoping review of the barriers and facilitators to gym-based exercise participation experienced by people with physical disabilities

Cited by 19 publications

References 63 publications

Barriers to, and Facilitators of, Exercising in Fitness Centres among Adults with and without Physical Disabilities: A Scoping Review

Barriers to, and Facilitators of, Exercising in Fitness Centres among Adults with and without Physical Disabilities: A Scoping Review

Fitness for all: how do non-disabled people respond to inclusive fitness centres?

Access & Crisis: Disrupting Ableist Definitions of Physical Activity & Culture

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