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RESEARCH The benefits of exercise Exercise and physical activity can be a challenge for anyone, but there are additional complexities for those living with a disability. By AMY HOGAN • Personalised – It’s important that exercise programmes are personalised or at least acknowledge the differences between individuals. • Policy – It is important for organisations, like the Cerebral Palsy Society, to take an active role in reducing the policy barriers to people with disabilities accessing the equipment. • Partnership – It is important to connect and engage with social aspects of exercise, where possible, and ask for support. • Positivity – It’s important to remember that it took a lot of work to get to this point. Your body is working hard to keep you active. Therefore, self-compassion is key. Accessible equipment and location There is increasing acknowledgement of gaps (such as accessible gym equipment) and several solutions and adaptations that can easily be made. It can be useful to check lists and directories that showwhere accessible exercise is available. Before you visit a new facility, jot down your specific needs for when you chat to staff. Online resources like YouTube also show the adapted resources that exist, as a starting point. Logistical barriers There are often logistical barriers to achieving regular exercise such as cost and transport. For many years, the idea of lifelong fitness and Cerebral Palsy (CP) was considered a waste of effort because it was wrongly believed that brain injuries were a static experience and did not change much. However, there is increasing evidence that individuals living with all types of CP, and at different ages, can see benefit from exercise both for general health and CP symptoms. Participation in exercise and physical activity can be a challenge for anyone particularly an individual living with additional complexities. Experts in the field have recommended: • Passion – There needs to be some level of interest and investment, even if it’s a small goal. A level of interest and investment are important parts of motivation for exercise and physical activity. 16 | THE REVIEW MAY–AUG 2022