Effects of sport or physical recreation for adults with physical or intellectual disabilities: a systematic review with meta-analysis

• Published in: British journal of sports medicine Vol. 58; no. 5; pp. 269 - 277
• Main Authors: Hassett, Leanne, McKay, Marnee J, Cole, Jenni, Moseley, Anne M, Chagpar, Sakina, Geerts, Minke, Kwok, Wing S, Jensen, Connie, Sherrington, Catherine, Shields, Nora
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and British Association of Sport and Exercise Medicine 01.03.2024; BMJ Publishing Group LTD
• Subjects: Adults; Anxiety; Disabled Persons; Exercise; Humans; Intellectual disabilities; Intellectual Disability; Intervention; Meta-analysis; Mobility; Mortality; Participation; People with disabilities; Physical activity; Population; Quality of Life; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Recreation; Sport; Sports for Persons with Disabilities; Systematic review; Walking; Systematic review; Sport; Physical activity; Recreation
• ISSN: 0306-3674; 1473-0480
• DOI: 10.1136/bjsports-2023-107123

ObjectivesTo evaluate the effects of sport or physical recreation on participation, mobility and quality of life for adults living with disabilities.DesignSystematic review with meta-analysis.Data sourcesSix databases searched from inception to May 2022.Eligibility criteriaRandomised controlled trials including adults living with a physical or intellectual disability, comparing sport or physical recreation to non-active control.ResultsSeventy-four trials (n=2954; mean age 55 years) were included. Most (70) trials included people with physical disabilities, none evaluated sport and the most common physical recreation activities tested were traditional Chinese exercise (35%), yoga (27%) and dance (18%). Mean frequency and duration was 65 min/session, two times per week for 13 weeks. Most (86%) interventions were led by people with experience and/or training in the recreation activity, and only 37% reported leader experience and/or training working with people with disabilities. Participation was measured as attendance (mean 81%, 30 intervention groups). Physical recreation improved mobility (standardised mean difference (SMD) 0.38, 95% CI 0.07 to 0.69, n=469) and walking endurance (mean difference (MD) 40.3 m, 95% CI 19.5 to 61.1, n=801) with low certainty evidence and balance (Berg Balance Scale, range 0–56 points; MD 3.4 points, 95% CI 2.3 to 4.4, n=906) and quality of life (physical health; SMD 0.37, 95% CI 0.02 to 0.72, n=468) with very low certainty evidence, but not walking speed (MD 0.03 m/s, 95% CI −0.05 to 0.11, n=486).ConclusionPhysical recreation may confer multiple benefits for people living with disabilities regardless of the activity chosen, thus offering a potentially enjoyable and scalable strategy to increase physical activity.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42018104379.