Being physically active can help improve health and wellbeing
and prevent secondary medical conditions. For
instance, physically active older adults are at lower risk of
disease and have higher levels of physical and cognitive
function, psychological well-being and independence than
inactive older adults.4,5 Despite such benefits, less than 10% of
those over 55 years meet the minimum amounts of activity
recommended for health (30 minutes of at least moderate
physical activity on five or more days per week).4 This is more
pronounced for disabled people in general and visually
impaired adults in particular. Disabled adults are less likely
than non-disabled adults to participate in physical, leisure or
sporting activities.6 Participation in these activities for those
with a sensory impairment (i.e. deaf and/or visually impaired)
are 4% lower than amongst those adults with other impairments
such as spinal cord injury (SCI).7