Exercise can support physical health, confidence, independence and overall wellbeing. For people living with disability, the right approach to exercise will look different for everyone.
Some people may want to improve strength or balance. Others may be working towards greater independence with everyday activities, increasing mobility, building fitness or simply finding an enjoyable way to stay active.
The important thing is that exercise is adapted to the individual rather than expecting the individual to fit a standard exercise program.
At Mind & Body Support, we provide disability personal training and personalised exercise support across Melbourne, helping people with disability participate in fitness in a way that reflects their abilities, interests and individual goals.
What Is Adaptive Exercise?
Adaptive exercise involves modifying physical activity to suit a person’s individual abilities, mobility, health considerations and goals.
Rather than following a one-size-fits-all workout, exercises can be adjusted in areas such as movement, equipment, resistance, intensity, duration and level of assistance.
For example, an exercise that is normally performed standing may be adapted to a seated position. Resistance may be reduced or increased, additional stability may be provided, or an activity may be broken into smaller steps.
Adaptive exercise can make physical activity more accessible for people with physical, intellectual, neurological or developmental disabilities.
The aim isn’t necessarily to perform an exercise in the conventional way. It’s to find an appropriate way for each person to move, participate and progress.
Benefits of Exercise for People With Disabilities
Regular physical activity can offer a range of physical, social and emotional benefits. The potential benefits will vary depending on the individual, their disability and the type of activity undertaken.
A personalised exercise program may help support:
Strength and muscular endurance
Balance and coordination
Mobility and flexibility
Cardiovascular fitness
Confidence with movement
Participation in everyday activities
Development of physical skills
Greater independence
Social participation
Routine and motivation
General health and wellbeing
Exercise can also provide an opportunity to work towards meaningful personal goals.
For one person, that might mean becoming stronger in the gym. For another, it could mean feeling more confident walking in the community, participating in sport, improving balance or building the stamina needed for everyday activities.
Disability Exercise Programs in Melbourne
A disability exercise program should start with the person — not a predetermined list of exercises.
At Mind & Body Support, exercise can be tailored around an individual’s current abilities, interests, support needs and goals.
Depending on the person, a program may incorporate:
Strength Training
Resistance exercises can be adapted using bodyweight movements, resistance bands, free weights, machines or other equipment.
Strength training may focus on particular movements or muscle groups, or be designed around functional goals relevant to everyday life.
Balance and Coordination Exercises
Balance and coordination activities can be incorporated where appropriate and modified according to the person’s abilities and level of support required.
This might include controlled movements, changes in position, stepping activities or exercises that challenge stability in an appropriate environment.
Mobility and Flexibility
Mobility exercises can focus on maintaining or developing comfortable movement through an appropriate range.
Programs may include gentle mobility exercises, stretching and movements relevant to the person’s daily activities.
Cardiovascular Exercise
Walking, cycling, swimming, dancing and adapted gym equipment are some of the ways cardiovascular activity may be incorporated into an exercise routine.
The intensity and duration can be adjusted to suit the individual.
Functional Exercise
Exercise doesn’t have to be about lifting the heaviest weight or running the fastest.
Functional movements can focus on the physical skills a person uses in everyday life, such as getting up from a chair, walking, carrying objects or moving confidently through different environments.
Exercise Ideas for People With Disabilities
There isn’t one type of exercise that is suitable for every person with disability.
The best activities depend on factors such as mobility, interests, current fitness, health considerations, confidence and personal goals.
Depending on the individual, exercise ideas may include:
Walking
Resistance-band exercises
Seated exercises
Bodyweight exercises
Free weights
Gym machines
Cycling
Swimming or water-based activity
Balance activities
Mobility exercises
Dancing
Ball games
Recreational activities
Modified sports
Outdoor physical activities
Enjoyment matters too.
Finding an activity someone genuinely likes can make it much easier to develop a positive and sustainable relationship with exercise.
Making Exercise More Accessible
Accessibility is about more than whether someone can physically enter a gym.
A genuinely inclusive exercise environment should consider communication, sensory needs, confidence, equipment, the physical environment and the amount of support an individual may require.
This might involve changing the exercise itself, providing additional demonstrations, using clear instructions, allowing additional time, selecting a quieter environment or gradually introducing someone to unfamiliar equipment.
Some people may feel comfortable exercising independently once they know what to do. Others may prefer ongoing one-to-one support.
The approach should reflect the individual.
Exercising at a Gym With a Disability
Going to the gym can be a great option, but traditional gym environments aren’t always suitable for everyone.
Equipment accessibility, noise, crowds, communication and staff experience can all affect someone’s experience.
Before choosing a gym, it can help to consider:
Whether the facility is physically accessible
The type of equipment available
Whether equipment can be adapted
How busy and noisy the gym becomes
Accessible bathrooms and change facilities
Whether support workers can attend
Whether trainers have experience supporting people with disability
We’ve also created a dedicated guide to gyms for people with disabilities in Melbourne with more information about what to consider when looking for an inclusive fitness environment.
Personal Training for People With Disabilities
Some people benefit from working one-to-one with a personal trainer who understands how to adapt exercise around different abilities and support requirements.
A disability personal trainer can help develop an individual program, introduce exercises gradually, modify activities where required and provide encouragement as the person works towards their goals.
Personal training goals might include:
Becoming stronger
Improving general fitness
Developing balance or coordination
Building confidence in a gym
Becoming more physically active
Learning how to use exercise equipment
Supporting greater independence
Finding enjoyable ways to move
Developing a regular exercise routine
The focus should remain on what the individual wants to achieve.
Exercise for Different Types of Disability
Disability is incredibly diverse, which is why exercise programs need to be individualised.
People with developmental, intellectual, neurological and physical disabilities can have very different abilities and support needs — even when they share the same diagnosis.
At Mind & Body Support, we work with people with a range of disabilities and conditions, including:
Parkinson’s disease
A diagnosis can provide useful context, but it shouldn’t determine someone’s entire exercise program.
Two people with the same condition may have completely different goals, preferences, abilities and levels of experience.
Exercise and Autism
For autistic people, exercise preferences and support needs can vary considerably.
Some people enjoy busy gyms, team activities and highly structured workouts, while others may prefer quieter environments, predictable routines or one-to-one exercise.
Communication style, sensory preferences, familiarity and personal interests can all influence the experience.
Read more about personal training for people with autism.
Exercise and Multiple Sclerosis
People living with multiple sclerosis may experience symptoms that affect movement, balance, strength, coordination or energy levels.
This means exercise may need to be adapted around the person’s current abilities and how they’re feeling on a particular day.
The type and intensity of activity should be individualised, particularly where symptoms fluctuate.
Mind & Body Support also provides support for people with multiple sclerosis to assist with individual goals, community participation and everyday life.
How to Get Started With Exercise
Starting an exercise routine doesn’t need to mean immediately joining a gym or completing a complicated workout.
A good starting point is identifying what the person actually wants to achieve.
That might be:
“I want to feel stronger.”
“I want to be able to walk further.”
“I want to learn how to use a gym.”
“I want to become more active.”
“I want to improve my balance.”
“I want exercise to feel enjoyable rather than intimidating.”
From there, activities can be selected and adapted around that goal.
Starting gradually also gives someone the opportunity to become familiar with new movements, environments and equipment before progressing.
Where a person has medical conditions, pain, significant mobility limitations or other health considerations, appropriate healthcare advice should be sought before beginning a new exercise program.
Finding the Right Disability Exercise Support
When looking for disability exercise support, consider whether the provider takes the time to understand the person rather than simply providing a standard workout.
Useful questions include:
Can the program be adapted to individual abilities?
Can sessions work towards the person’s own goals?
Is one-to-one support available?
Can exercises be modified when needed?
Is the environment appropriate for the individual?
Does the trainer have experience supporting people with disability?
Can the program change as the person’s abilities and goals change?
Most importantly, the person participating should feel comfortable, respected and involved in decisions about their exercise.
Disability Personal Training and Exercise Support in Melbourne
Mind & Body Support provides personalised disability exercise and personal training across Melbourne.
Our approach focuses on the individual — their goals, abilities, interests and preferred way of exercising.
Whether the goal is improving fitness, becoming stronger, learning to exercise safely in a gym, developing confidence or simply becoming more active, we can build sessions around what matters to you.
Explore our Disability Personal Training service to learn more about our approach and how to get started.
