Fitness centers frequently display disability-friendly imagery or claim inclusivity, but the study discovered that these gestures frequently conceal environments that are still virtually inaccessible. This disparity between symbolic inclusion and functional access reflects how institutions enforce compliance rather than embody inclusion.

Symbolic Versus Functional Inclusion

The study demonstrates that accessibility cannot be reduced to ramps and door widths. Adults with physical disabilities frequently face barriers resulting from social and attitudinal environments, such as unwelcoming staff, a lack of awareness, or an exclusionary fitness culture, demonstrating that accessibility is relational and experiential rather than structural.

Accessibility is often difficult to measure or define, due to the many types of accessibility that exist. A structure may be accessible to someone with one type of disability, but not to someone with another. Additionally, there are many different criteria that can be used to determine or measure accessibility.

Challenges in Determining Accessibility

Nikolajsen, Helene, et al. “Barriers to, and Facilitators of, Exercising in Fitness Centres among Adults with and without Physical Disabilities: A Scoping Review.” International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, vol. 18, no. 14, 2021, p. 7341. MDPI, https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18147341

Reference For: Barriers to, and Facilitators of, Exercising in Fitness Centres
among Adults with and without Physical Disabilities:
A Scoping Review

- Absolute Accessibility
- Relative Accessibility

Criteria for Determining Accessibility

Adults with physical disabilities face limitations in mobility and bodily function as a result of conditions such as cerebral palsy, spinal cord injury, or neuromuscular disease. These impairments frequently necessitate environmental and social modifications to ensure equitable access to exercise.


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