Abstract
This study aimed to compare rates of participation in physical activity according to the type of disability, sex, point of disability diagnosis (congenital vs. acquired), and ability to walk independently. The study involved individuals who were registered as disabled based on the 2020 Sports Survey for the Disabled project of the Korea Ministry of Health and Welfare. Participants (mean age: 49.94 ± 12.35 years) included those with physical disabilities (n = 889), visual impairments (n = 523), hearing/speech impairments (n = 412), intellectual disabilities (n = 561), and disabilities associated with brain lesions (n = 364). Rates of severe (100%) and congenital disability (65.95%) were highest in the intellectual disability group. Acquired disability was most frequent in the physical disability group (94.71%). The highest frequency of independent walking ability was observed in the hearing/speech impairment group (99.27%). The rate of participation in physical activity was significantly higher in the acquired (odds ratio [OR] = 1.46, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.12–1.87, p = 0.005) and independent walking (OR = 1.43, 95% CI = 1.11–1.84, p = 0.005) hearing/speech impairment groups than in the corresponding physical disability groups after adjusting for age, sex, and severity. Our findings highlight the need to promote physical activity for people with physical and intellectual disabilities based on the factors examined in this study.
Highlights
The proportion of people with disabilities is increasing worldwide [1], with rates more than doubling in South Korea (Korea hereafter) between 2001 and 2016 [2]
The rate of severe disability was highest in the intellectual disability group (100%), which exhibited the highest frequency of congenital disability (65.95%)
Participation in physical activity was approximately 45% more likely in individuals with hearing/speech impairments whose conditions were acquired and who were capable of independent walking
Summary
The proportion of people with disabilities is increasing worldwide [1], with rates more than doubling in South Korea (Korea hereafter) between 2001 and 2016 [2]. The. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines a disability as any condition of the body or mind (impairment) that makes it more difficult for the persons with the condition to do certain activities (activity limitation) and interact with the world around them (participation restrictions) [3]. Disabilities can reduce general social activity [4] and limit the choice of physical activity [5], which can lead to health problems. The risk of developing non-communicable diseases (NCD) is three times higher in people with than in people without disabilities [3]. Managing healthcare for individuals with disabilities can be complex and time-consuming
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