Physical activity levels of adults with various physical disabilities

This study examined the physical activity (PA) levels of people with specific disabilities, using health care registration data. Data of 321,656 adults (83%) from the Dutch Public Health Monitor 2012 were used to assess adherence to the World Health Organization (WHO) PA guidelines (%) and the time (min/week) spent on moderate-to-vigorous-intensity and vigorous-intensity PA. Specific physical and sensory (i.e. vision and hearing) disabilities were identified by means of two health claims registries that include reimbursement of functional aids and long-term care. Generalized estimated equations were used to determine the association of PA with disabilities, adjusted for confounders (model 1) and additionally for self-reported activity limitations (model 2). Adults with disabilities had lower levels of WHO PA guidelines adherence (range: −49.8% to −11.9%, p < 0.01) and of moderate-to-vigorous-intensity PA (range: −691 to −200 min/week, p < 0.01) than adults without physical and sensory disabilities. Adults with physical disabilities had the lowest levels. The difference in levels of vigorous-intensity PA between adults with and without physical and sensory disabilities ranged from −12 to 8 min/week Only adults receiving long-term care due to physical disabilities had significantly lower vigorous-intensity PA levels (−12 min/week, p < 0.01). After adjustment for self-reported activity limitations, the difference in PA levels between adults with and without physical and sensory disabilities attenuated, especially among those with physical disabilities, but PA levels were still lower for adults with physical disabilities (−34.5% to −9.8% and −466 to −172 min/week, p < 0.01, respectively). Regardless of self-reported activity limitations, adults with objectively measured disabilities, especially those with physical disabilities, had lower PA levels compared to adults without physical and sensory disabilities.