Physical Activity for Women with Disabilities << How to Be Active for Health << Staying Active and Eating Healthy << womenshealth.gov

Physical Activity for Women with Disabilities

A disability may make it harder to stay active, but it shouldn't stop you. In most cases, people with disabilities can improve their flexibility, mobility, and coordination by becoming physically active. Even though you have a disability, you should still aim to meet the physical activity goals listed in Types of Physical Activity.

Talk to your health care provider about your personal needs. For more information, visit our Illnesses and Disabilities section.

Additional Resources

Publications

Physical Activity for Women With Disabilities — Women with disabilities need to be physically active, as do all women. This site explains why and provides links to publications to help women with disabilities overcome barriers and get active.

http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/women/physical.htm

http://www.ncpad.org/exercise/fact_sheet.php?sheet=15

A Health Handbook for Women With Disabilities (Copyright © Hesperian Foundation) — This comprehensive health book for women with disabilities features chapters on understanding and taking care of your body, growing older with a disability, abuse, violence, self-defense, and much more.

http://www.hesperian.org/publications_download_wwd.php

Recreation: A Great Way to Be Active (Copyright © NC Office on Disability and Health) — This publication provides ideas about ways to be active beyond just going to the gym and lifting weights. It talks about gardening, walking the dog, flying a kite, and other ways to have fun and stay active.

http://www.fpg.unc.edu/~ncodh/pdfs/recbeactive.pdf

The Wise Choices Food Pyramid: What if We Did Compare Apples and Oranges? —

http://mtdh.ruralinstitute.umt.edu/Publications/WiseChoices.htm

Organizations

= Indicates Federal Resources

Content last updated June 17, 2008.