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Families, Health Conditions, and Walking

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People with mobility and non-mobility health conditions are less likely to be physically active1, are at higher risk for chronic diseases1-5, report more barriers to physical activity (e.g., traffic, crime, animals), and report fewer supports for physical activity (e.g., roads, sidewalks, paths, trails, relaxing places)6 than people without health conditions.

Non-mobility health conditions encompass a wide range of physical and mental illnesses including, but not limited to:7

  • Autism spectrum disorder
  • Emotional or behavioral health condition
  • Hearing impairment
  • Intellectual disability
  • Speech or language impairment
  • Specific learning disability (e.g., dyslexia)
  • Traumatic brain injury
  • Visual impairment

Mobility issues impact movement, balance, and performance of physical tasks and include, but are not limited to, the following conditions:

  • Injuries and amputations
  • Musculoskeletal (e.g., arthritis)
  • Neurological (e.g., cerebral palsy)

Benefits of physical activity for people with health conditions

People with health conditions who are physically active see improvements in their cardiovascular health, muscle strength, physical functioning, cognitive functioning, body weight, social skills, relationships, and mental health.8-10

Benefits among children include:

  • Locomotor performance8
  • Object control8
  • Social skills8
  • Peer interaction8
  • Self-confidence8,11
  • Bone and mineral density12
  • Reduced risk of overweight and obesity13
  • Reduced loneliness and depression14,15

Benefits among adults include:

  • Enhanced quality of life16
  • Muscle strength17
  • Self-confidence16

Family walks for those with health conditions

Together, the family is stronger than any one person alone. This is evident by the fact that families who are physically active together have similar walking habits and levels of light, moderate, and vigorous activity.18,19 Walking as a family (e.g., includes use of wheelchairs) is a form of physical activity that supports people with physical, cognitive, and social health conditions. It has been linked to improvements in family health, self-reported health status, health satisfaction, and exercise duration and frequency.20

Supports for walking with health conditions

Families with members who have health conditions face barriers that are different than families without health conditions. For example, parents of children with health conditions perceive family, health conditions, programs, facilities, motivation, and past experiences to be both barriers and facilitators to physical activity.21

Here are a few things to consider that may help remove barriers when walking with your family member who has a health condition:

  • Walking greater distances improves both physical and emotional health of those with health conditions20
    • Consider gauging walking distance based on the ability and needs of those with health conditions
    • Walking distance can be measured by time or by counting the number of steps/miles
    • Researchers have proposed an average of 1,200 to 8,800 steps per day for people with health conditions22
  • Walking in nature can help boost mood, control temperament, and reduce stress23,24 for those with cognitive and visual health conditions.
    • Consider finding green spaces (e.g., park, forest, trail) for walking
    • Travel may be required to find spaces that accommodate (e.g., sidewalks, paved trails, etc.) those with mobility health conditions
  • Find, join, or create a walking group and invite other families to join
    • An introductory meeting may be necessary to discuss the specific needs and health conditions (e.g., mobility needs, anger and emotional needs, social needs) of your family member to ensure that other families understand how to handle different situations that may arise
    • This is a great way to provide social interaction for those with and without health conditions and can be a learning opportunity for families without health conditions
  • Plan, schedule, and prioritize walking trips to suit the needs of those with health conditions. Examples include:
    • Scheduling time to go to the local school track so that a family member with mobility issues has a flat surface on which to walk
    • Prioritize traveling to the local park to walk in green spaces for family members who emotional challenges
    • Plan to use local public buildings as a backup on days when walking outside is not an option
  • Make walking enjoyable for family members with, and without, health conditions. Consider the following things to help:
    • Varying the locations of the walk
    • Adding music
    • Taking additional family members and friends
    • Taking healthy snacks
    • Creating a family tradition

For more information, consider reading the following SYNC articles:

References

  1. Carroll, D. D., Courtney-Long, E. A., Stevens, A. C., Sloan, M. L., Lullo, C., Visser, S. N., … & Dorn, J. M. (2014). Vital signs: disability and physical activity—United States, 2009–2012. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep, 63(18), 407-413.
  2. Bureau, U. C. (2017). American community survey 1-year estimates. Retrieved from Census Reporter Profile page for NYC-Manhattan Community District.
  3. Krahn, G. L., Walker, D. K., & Correa-De-Araujo, R. (2015). Persons with disabilities as an unrecognized health disparity population. American journal of public health, 105(S2), S198-S206.
  4. Okoro, C. A. (2018). Prevalence of disabilities and health care access by disability status and type among adults—United States, 2016. MMWR. Morbidity and mortality weekly report, 67.
  5. US Department of Health and Human Services. (2018). 2018 Physical activity guidelines advisory committee. 2018 Physical activity guidelines advisory committee scientific report.
  6. Omura, J. D., Hyde, E. T., Whitfield, G. P., Hollis, N. D., Fulton, J. E., & Carlson, S. A. (2020). Differences in perceived neighborhood environmental supports and barriers for walking between US adults with and without a disability. Preventive medicine, 134, 106065.
  7. Carbone, P. S., Smith, P. J., Lewis, C., & LeBlanc, C. (2021). Promoting the participation of children and adolescents with disabilities in sports, recreation, and physical activity. Pediatrics, 148(6).
  8. Arbour-Nicitopoulos, K. P., Grassmann, V., Orr, K., McPherson, A. C., Faulkner, G. E., & Wright, F. V. (2018). A scoping review of inclusive out-of-school time physical activity programs for children and youth with physical disabilities. Adapted Physical Activity Quarterly, 35(1), 111-138.
  9. Lai, B., Lee, E., Wagatsuma, M., Frey, G., Stanish, H., Jung, T., & Rimmer, J. H. (2020). Research trends and recommendations for physical activity interventions among children and youth with disabilities: a review of reviews. Adapted Physical Activity Quarterly, 37(2), 211-234.
  10. Lai, B., Lee, E., Kim, Y., Matthews, C., Swanson‐Kimani, E., Davis, D., … & Rimmer, J. H. (2021). Leisure‐time physical activity interventions for children and adults with cerebral palsy: a scoping review. Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology, 63(2), 162-171.
  11. Valle, K. L. D., Davidson, Z. E., Kennedy, R. A., Ryan, M. M., & Carroll, K. M. (2016). Physical activity and the use of standard and complementary therapies in Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophies. Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicine, 9(1), 55-63.
  12. Chad, K. E., Bailey, D. A., McKay, H. A., Zello, G. A., & Snyder, R. E. (1999). The effect of a weight-bearing physical activity program on bone mineral content and estimated volumetric density in children with spastic cerebral palsy. The Journal of pediatrics, 135(1), 115-117.
  13. McCoy, S. M., Jakicic, J. M., & Gibbs, B. B. (2016). Comparison of obesity, physical activity, and sedentary behaviors between adolescents with autism spectrum disorders and without. Journal of autism and developmental disorders, 46(7), 2317-2326.
  14. Bohnert, A., Lieb, R., & Arola, N. (2019). More than leisure: Organized activity participation and socio-emotional adjustment among adolescents with autism spectrum disorder. Journal of autism and developmental disorders, 49(7), 2637-2652.
  15. Spratt, E., Mercer, M. A., Grimes, A., Papa, C., Norton, J., Serpe, A., … & Newton, J. (2017). Translating benefits of exercise on depression for youth with autism spectrum disorder and neurodevelopmental disorders. Journal of psychology and psychiatry, 2, 109.
  16. Bondár, R. Z., Di Fronso, S., Bortoli, L., Robazza, C., Metsios, G. S., & Bertollo, M. (2020). The effects of physical activity or sport‐based interventions on psychological factors in adults with intellectual disabilities: A systematic review. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 64(2), 69-92.
  17. Bouzas, S., Martínez-Lemos, R. I., & Ayán, C. (2019). Effects of exercise on the physical fitness level of adults with intellectual disability: A systematic review. Disability and rehabilitation, 41(26), 3118-3140.
  18. Neshteruk, C. D., Nezami, B. T., Nino-Tapias, G., Davison, K. K., and Ward. D. S. (2017). The influence of fathers on children’s physical activity: A review of the literature from 2009 to 2015. Preventive Medicine, 102, pages 12-19.
  19. Petersen, T. L., Møller, L. B., Brønd, J. C., Jepsen, R., & Grøntved, A. (2020). Association between parent and child physical activity: a systematic review. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 17, 1-16.
  20. Selanon, P., & Chuangchai, W. (2023). Walking activity increases physical abilities and subjective health in people with seven different types of disabilities. Frontiers in public health, 11, 1120926.
  21. McGarty, A. M., & Melville, C. A. (2018). Parental perceptions of facilitators and barriers to physical activity for children with intellectual disabilities: A mixed methods systematic review. Research in developmental disabilities, 73, 40-57.
  22. Tudor-Locke, C., Craig, C. L., Aoyagi, Y., Bell, R. C., Croteau, K. A., De Bourdeaudhuij, I., … & Blair, S. N. (2011). How many steps/day are enough? For older adults and special populations. International journal of behavioral nutrition and physical activity, 8(1), 80.
  23. Li, D., Larsen, L., Yang, Y., Wang, L., Zhai, Y., & Sullivan, W. C. (2019). Exposure to nature for children with autism spectrum disorder: Benefits, caveats, and barriers. Health & place, 55, 71-79.
  24. Roe, J. (2016). Cities, green space, and mental well-being. In Oxford research encyclopedia of environmental science.