Diverse Users' Experiences in Gyms: An Exploration of Person-Environment Fit

People with a disability encounter many barriers in gyms, limiting their opportunities to experience health benefits associated with exercise. To better understand how to develop accessible exercise opportunities, this study examined person-environment interactions from the perspectives of diverse participants as they navigated gyms. A think-aloud protocol involving a series of tasks completed in two gyms was adopted to capture perceptions of accessibility, usability, and inclusion. Directed content analyses of think-aloud transcripts were guided by the Universal Design-based framework. Fourteen males and 24 females between 18 and 68 years participated. Nineteen participants had a disability and/or impairment. Five themes illustrated how participants maneuvered, understood, and felt in the gyms, reflecting physical (e.g., equipment versatility), cognitive (e.g., accessible information), and social factors (e.g., interpersonal interactions). Findings provide an understanding of how functional gyms could be developed for people with and without a disability to support participation in exercise.