The study identifies not only physical barriers, but also the emotional impact of exclusion, fear, shame, or "othering" faced by disabled participants. These feelings stem from repeated reminders that spaces were not designed with them in mind, which reinforces internalized exclusion.

Inaccessibility as Psycho-Emotional Disablism

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.

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 as More Than Architecture

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

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