Maxim Poon Wong - Increasing Physical Activity Among Adults with Disabilities

1. Maxim Poon Wong - Increasing Physical Activity Among Adults with Disabilities According to the World Health Organization, one in four adults, aged 18-64, has a disability. People with disabilities have difficulty walking, climbing stairs, hearing, seeing, concentrating, remembering, or making decisions. According to Maxim Poon Wong, people with disabilities are more likely to suffer from heart disease, stroke, diabetes, or cancer. Nearly half of all adults with disabilities do not engage in any leisure-time aerobic physical activity, even though aerobic physical activity can help reduce the impact of these chronic diseases. There is a role to be played by doctors and other health care professionals Doctors must promote physical activity among their adult patients with disabilities. Adults with disabilities are more likely to be physically active if they receive a recommendation from their doctor. However, only 44% of adults with disabilities who saw a doctor in the past year had a recommendation. To increase physical activity among adults with disabilities, doctors and other healthcare professionals can follow these five steps: •Everyone should follow the Physical Activity Guidelines •Make sure you ask about physical activity •Identify and discuss barriers to physical activity •Recommendations for Physical Activity •Everyone should follow the guidelines for physical activity The 2018 Physical Activity Guidelines advise physicians and other health professionals to recommend physical activity for their patients with disabilities. Patients with disabilities of all shapes, sizes, and abilities should be physically active. Refer patients to resources and programs. Inactivity is detrimental to the health of adults. Even a little bit of physical activity is better than no physical activity, and adults who exercise have health benefits. In addition to the daily accumulated total volume of physical activity, bouts or episodes of aerobic activity of any duration may be included. Adults with disabilities who are unable to meet the above guidelines should engage in regular physical activity according to their abilities and should avoid inactivity says, Maxim Poon Wong. People with disabilities should talk to their doctor about the types and amounts of physical activity they should engage in based on their abilities.