Bending the Arc of Exercise and Recreation Technology Toward People With Disabilities

Most of the published research on exercise and disability has focused on short-term efficacy studies targeting specific disability groups. These studies often use grant-related or other financial resources to temporarily remove the many barriers that people with physical/mobility disability experience when attempting to become physically active. In this commentary, we explore how technology can be used to promote more sustainable physical activity outcomes in the home and community using a set of 4 overlapping domains: Access, Usability, Adherence, and Health and Function. In addition, we describe how the order in which these domains should be addressed will vary depending on the needs of the target group and the context of their environment. Finally, we provide examples of various types of technologies (eg, hardware and software) that can support the "afterlife" of successful short-term exercise and rehabilitation trials in people with physical/mobility disability who desire to self-manage their own health and maintain a regular and sustainable pattern of physical activity across their life span.