Perceived Benefits of Adapted Fitness Participation Among Adults with Physical Impairments

Authors

• Leslie R. Prom, Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at Old Dominion UniversityFollow
• Beth E. Jamali, Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at Old Dominion UniversityFollow
• Christopher K. Rhea, Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at Old Dominion University
• Brittany S. Samulski, Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at Old Dominion University
• Cailee E. Welch Bacon, A.T. Still University
• Julie M. Cavallario, The University of Utah

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2026

DOI

10.3390/app16199929

Publication Title

Applied Sciences

Volume

16

Issue

19

Pages

9929 (13 pp.)

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Regular physical activity is recommended to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Individuals with physical impairments have barriers that limit their participation in traditional exercise. Understanding their perceptions of adapted fitness programming can aid in the large-scale development and implementation of such programs. The aim of this study was to identify perceived benefits of adults with physical impairments participating in an adapted fitness program. Methods: Eight adapted fitness program participants (7 males and 1 female) with various neurologic diagnoses or bilateral lower extremity amputation completed the study. A consensual qualitative research (CQR) design with a semi-structured interview guide with evidence of content validity was used. The interview guide explicitly prompted physical, functional, emotional, and social benefits. Interviews were conducted via Zoom. Data were analyzed through three phases of consensus coding by three researchers. Trustworthiness measures included member-checking, multi-analyst triangulation, and an external auditor. Results: Three themes with associated categories were developed through the broader CQR analysis. The present study focuses on the intrinsic benefits theme, which included four categories: (1) general physical benefits, (2) functional movement/activities of daily living benefits, (3) mental/emotional benefits, and (4) social benefits. Participants described perceived improvements in physical capacity and daily function, as well as benefits related to mood, identity, and social connection. These benefits coexisted with continued functional deficits and variation in participants’ experiences of social connection. Conclusions: Participants reported physical, functional, mental/emotional, and social benefits that they associated with adapted fitness participation. These findings describe the perceived value of participation among eight participants in an adapted fitness program. The findings may inform discussions of participants’ goals and experiences but do not establish program effectiveness. Rather, they provide insight into how participants perceived the adapted fitness program and its relevance to their physical function and well-being.

Rights

© 2026 by the authors.

This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) License.

Data Availability

Article states: "The raw data supporting the conclusions of this article will be made available by the authors on request."

ORCID

0000-0001-7256-4508 (Rhea), 0000-0003-4519-3347 (Samulski)

Original Publication Citation

Prom, L. R., Jamali, B. E., Rhea, C. K., Samulski, B. S., Welch Bacon, C. E., & Cavallario, J. M. (2026). Perceived benefits of adapted fitness participation among adults with physical impairments. Applied Sciences, 16(19), Article 9929. https://doi.org/10.3390/app16199929

Repository Citation

Prom, Leslie R.; Jamali, Beth E.; Rhea, Christopher K.; Samulski, Brittany S.; Welch Bacon, Cailee E.; and Cavallario, Julie M., "Perceived Benefits of Adapted Fitness Participation Among Adults with Physical Impairments" (2026). Rehabilitation Sciences Faculty Publications. 186.
https://digitalcommons.odu.edu/pt_pubs/186