Many people would assume that disabled people cannot participate in sport and exercise but this is not the case. There are a number of sports and physical activities which are accessible to disabled people and the number of people participating in disabled sports has risen significantly.

Exercise also provides opportunities for social inclusion, which can be particularly important for disabled people, as many disabled people worry about meeting other people. Sport is often very enjoyable and enables individuals to set goals, which can be very important in the rehabilitation process, as well as being important for building self-esteem and confidence.

Which forms of exercise are beneficial for disabled people?

There are many different sports and activities that are suitable and beneficial for people with disabilities, and which one best for you is ultimately your decision. Popular sports and activities amongst disabled people include:

• Wheelchair basketball
• Wheelchair racing
• Football
• Fishing
• Cycling
• Wheelchair tennis
• Athletics
• Swimming
• Wheelchair rugby

Exercise equipment

Equipment is becoming increasingly sophisticated and almost all sports can be adapted to enable people with disabilities to participate. Everything from wheelchairs to gym machines can be adapted and adjusted to suit disabled people and new products and machines are coming onto the market all the time.