• Physical activity need not be strenuous to achieve health benefits.
• Significant health benefits can be obtained with a moderate amount of physical activity, preferably daily. The same moderate amount of activity can be obtained in longer sessions of moderately intense activities (such as 30-40 minutes of wheeling oneself in a wheelchair) or in shorter sessions of more strenuous activities (such as 20 minutes of wheelchair basketball).
• Additional health benefits can be gained through greater amounts of physical activity. People who can maintain a regular routine of physical activity that is of longer duration or of greater intensity are likely to derive greater benefit.
• Previously sedentary people who begin physical activity programs should start with short intervals of physical activity (5-10 minutes) and gradually build up to the desired level of activity.
• People with disabilities should first consult a physician before beginning a program of physical activity to which they are unaccustomed.
• The emphasis on moderate amounts of physical activity makes it possible to vary activities to meet individual needs, preferences, and life circumstances.

FACTS

• People with disabilities are less likely to engage in regular moderate physical activity than people without disabilities, yet they have similar needs to promote their health and prevent unnecessary disease.
• Social support from family and friends has been consistently and positively related to regular physical activity.

BENEFITS OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

• Reduces the risk of dying from coronary heart disease and of developing high blood pressure, colon cancer, and diabetes.
• Can help people with chronic, disabling conditions improve their stamina and muscle strength.
• Reduces symptoms of anxiety and depression, improves mood, and promotes general feelings of well-being.
• Helps control joint swelling and pain associated with arthritis.
• Can help reduce blood pressure in some people with hypertension.

WHAT COMMUNITIES CAN DO

• Provide community-based programs to meet the needs of persons with disabilities.
• Encourage health care providers to talk routinely to their patients with disabilities about incorporating physical activity into their lives.

Excerpted from online information: http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/sgr/disab.htm