Physical activity for individuals living with a physical disability in Quebec: Issues and opportunities of access

Individuals living with a physical disability have reported difficulty in meeting their healthy living and leisure needs which could be a result of poor accessibility.

This qualitative study aimed to understand the relative accessibility of physical activity from the perspective of individuals living with a physical disability in Quebec, Canada.

Twenty semi-structured interviews were conducted with current, past, non-members, and staff members of an adapted physical activity program. A qualitative approach with an inductive thematic analysis was used to interpret the data.

We identified five overarching themes focusing on participants' experiences related to access: (i) physical activity opportunities; (ii) social interactions; (iii) relationships; (iv) infrastructure; (v) policies and public services. Participants highlighted that access to physical activity programming is shaped by a complex interaction of these overarching themes and their sub-themes.

Access to physical activity opportunities for individuals living with a physical disability cannot be understood in isolation from the broader public policies, infrastructure, social interactions, and relationships that shape their experiences. Policy makers and other health and recreational professionals must consider these broader factors when recommending or creating physical activity opportunities for individuals with physical disabilities.