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Physical Activity Participation Among Disabled Adults: Statistics

Survey findings on activity guidelines, participation, accessibility, support, costs, and wellbeing among disabled adults in the U.S., Scotland, and UK.

November 11, 2026 11 min read inclusivefitness.org Editorial Team

Contents

Physical activity participation among disabled adults statistics: U.S. aerobic guideline attainment

In 2024, 22.4% of U.S. adults age 18 and older with disabilities met federal aerobic physical activity guidelines during leisure time. The comparable estimate among adults without disabilities was 49.8%; the estimate for all adults was 47.2%. These estimates come from the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), which represents the civilian noninstitutionalized population. The report defines disability as having a lot of difficulty or being unable to do at least 1 of the 6 Washington Group Short Set domains. The measure is specifically leisure-time aerobic guideline attainment, not every kind of movement in a person’s day. CDC, Aerobic Physical Activity Among Adults Age 18 and Older: United States, 2024

U.S. adults age 18+, 2024Meeting leisure-time aerobic guideline
With disabilities22.4% (95% CI: 20.6–24.3)
Without disabilities49.8% (95% CI: 48.9–50.8)
All adults47.2% (95% CI: 46.3–48.0)

The report also presents overall adult estimates by sex and age. Among men, 52.3% met the leisure-time aerobic guideline; among women, 42.4% did. By age, the estimates were 54.0% for adults ages 18–34, 49.8% for ages 35–49, and 44.6% for ages 50–64. These are results for adults overall, rather than disability-specific comparisons by sex or age. They provide context for the survey’s overall pattern but cannot establish rates for disabled subgroups. CDC, Aerobic Physical Activity Among Adults Age 18 and Older: United States, 2024

U.S. adult subgroup, 2024Meeting leisure-time aerobic guideline
Men52.3% (95% CI: 51.1–53.5)
Women42.4% (95% CI: 41.3–43.4)
Ages 18–3454.0% (95% CI: 52.5–55.6)
Ages 35–4949.8% (95% CI: 48.3–51.3)
Ages 50–6444.6% (95% CI: 43.1–46.0)

Physical activity participation among disabled adults statistics: U.S. inactivity and strength activity

Healthy People 2030 reports the age-adjusted percentage of U.S. adults age 18 and older who do no physical activity during free time. Among adults with disabilities, the reported values were 53.3% in 2020, 48.9% in 2022, and 45.3% in 2024. In 2024, the estimate for adults without disabilities was 22.9%. The series is adjusted to the year 2000 standard population. These observations describe the selected years and do not explain why the levels differ. Healthy People 2030, Reduce the proportion of adults who do no physical activity in their free time — Data

U.S. adults age 18+No leisure-time physical activity, age-adjusted
With disabilities, 202053.3%
With disabilities, 202248.9%
With disabilities, 202445.3%
Without disabilities, 202422.9%

A separate Healthy People 2030 measure asks whether adults do leisure-time muscle-strengthening activity on at least 2 days per week. For adults with disabilities, age-adjusted values were 19.4% in 2020, 17.9% in 2022, and 19.2% in 2024. The 2024 estimate for adults without disabilities was 34.2%. This frequency measure does not establish aerobic guideline attainment or whether a respondent met both kinds of guideline. Healthy People 2030, Increase the proportion of adults who do enough muscle-strengthening activity — Data

U.S. adults age 18+Leisure-time strength activity at least 2 days per week, age-adjusted
With disabilities, 202019.4%
With disabilities, 202217.9%
With disabilities, 202419.2%
Without disabilities, 202434.2%

The no-activity measure and the aerobic guideline measure describe different outcomes: doing no leisure-time activity is not the same as falling short of an aerobic threshold. Strength activity has its own frequency definition, so it also should not be read as a proxy for aerobic participation. The Healthy People 2030 series and NHIS results use separate measures and should be interpreted on their own terms. Healthy People 2030, inactivity data; Healthy People 2030, strength activity data

Physical activity participation among disabled adults statistics: Scotland activity and sport participation

Scotland’s 2024 Scottish Health Survey reported that 49% of adults with a disability met moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) recommendations, compared with 71% of adults without a disability. Very low activity levels were reported for 36% and 17%, respectively. The survey’s guideline and low-activity indicators cover ages 16–64. Its disability analysis describes adults age 16 and older with a long-term life-limiting illness, which is a different definition from the U.S. surveys cited above. Scottish Government, Sport and Physical Activity: State of the Nation — Adults

Scottish Health Survey adult indicator, 2024DisabilityNo disability
Met MVPA recommendations49%71%
Very low activity levels36%17%
Met muscle-strengthening recommendations21%35%
Mean weekday leisure sedentary time6.5 hours5.2 hours

For muscle-strengthening recommendations, the survey reported 21% among adults with a disability and 35% among adults without one. Mean weekday leisure sedentary time was 6.5 hours for adults with a disability and 5.2 hours for those without. The sedentary-time indicator, like the other listed measures, covers ages 16–64. Sedentary time is a separate measure and is not the inverse of physical activity. Scottish Government, Sport and Physical Activity: State of the Nation — Adults

These Scottish indicators use different definitions and age ranges from the U.S. leisure-time activity measures. Scottish Government, Sport and Physical Activity: State of the Nation — Adults

Physical activity participation among disabled adults statistics: mobility disability activity types

A 2017 analysis of the U.S. Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) examined adults age 18 and older who reported mobility disability. It classified 30.4% as sufficiently aerobically active, 14.7% as insufficiently active, and 54.8% as aerobically inactive. These weighted historical estimates concern a specific disability group, not all adults with disabilities. Hollis et al., Physical activity types among US adults with mobility disability, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2017

BRFSS 2017 aerobic activity status among adults with mobility disabilityPercent (95% CI)
Sufficiently active30.4% (29.7–31.2)
Insufficiently active14.7% (14.1–15.4)
Inactive54.8% (54.0–55.7)

The same study classified respondents according to whether they met aerobic and muscle-strengthening recommendations. In 2017, 9.2% met both guidelines, 21.3% met only the aerobic guideline, 9.1% met only the muscle-strengthening guideline, and 60.5% met neither. The categories distinguish combined guideline attainment from meeting just 1 recommendation. Hollis et al., Physical activity types among US adults with mobility disability, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2017

BRFSS 2017 guideline status among adults with mobility disabilityPercent (95% CI)
Met both aerobic and muscle-strengthening guidelines9.2% (8.7–9.6)
Met aerobic guideline only21.3% (20.6–22.0)
Met muscle-strengthening guideline only9.1% (8.6–9.6)
Met neither guideline60.5% (59.6–61.3)

Walking of all types was reported by 34.0% of adults with mobility disability. In the study’s activity table, the walking row lists 22,566 respondents, while the table identifies 66,635 respondents overall. Walking is one activity type recorded by the analysis. The measure does not determine whether walking was accessible or appropriate for any particular person, and it does not describe every activity respondents may have done. The figures refer to BRFSS 2017, not current prevalence. Hollis et al., Physical activity types among US adults with mobility disability, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2017

physical activity participation among disabled adults: accessible activity opportunities and inclusion in the UK

Activity Alliance’s UK online survey was conducted in September and October 2025 and reported in June 2026. It included 2,111 respondents: 1,007 disabled people and 1,104 non-disabled people. Among respondents, 52% of disabled people said they had the opportunity to be as active as they wanted, compared with 74% of non-disabled people. Meanwhile, 67% of disabled respondents wanted to do more physical activity, compared with 54% of non-disabled respondents. These findings describe survey respondents rather than national prevalence. Activity Alliance, Annual Disability and Activity Survey 2025–26

Interest in more activity was also reported by 77% of disabled respondents with 5 or more impairments and 74% of respondents with physical impairments. These answers capture stated interest, not completed activity. Opportunity and interest are distinct responses: a person can want to do more while reporting that they do not have the opportunity to be as active as they want. Activity Alliance, Annual Disability and Activity Survey 2025–26

Respondents also described their most recent sport or physical activity session. Among disabled respondents, 67% said they enjoyed the session, compared with 83% of non-disabled respondents. On suitability, 82% of disabled respondents agreed activities were suitable for their ability level, compared with 94% of non-disabled respondents. On inclusion and accessibility, 85% of disabled respondents agreed sessions were inclusive and accessible to them, compared with 93% of non-disabled respondents. These are reported experiences, rather than venue audits or explanations for the responses. Activity Alliance, Annual Disability and Activity Survey 2025–26

Lack of confidence to take part or contact a group or facility was reported as a barrier by 24% of disabled respondents and 12% of non-disabled respondents. This response concerns a point at which someone may be considering joining or contacting an activity provider. The survey records how respondents described the barrier; it does not establish which change would address an individual person’s situation. Activity Alliance, Annual Disability and Activity Survey 2025–26

physical activity participation among disabled adults: activity support, costs and wellbeing in the UK

Among disabled respondents who took part in sport and activity, 60% cited improving or maintaining physical health or getting fit as a reason, and 50% cited improving or maintaining mental health. Among disabled respondents with long-term pain who took part, 66% cited physical health or fitness. These are reported motivations, not measured health outcomes and not evidence that activity caused a particular result. Activity Alliance, Annual Disability and Activity Survey 2025–26

The survey asked about wellbeing, including anxiety yesterday on a scale from 0, “not at all anxious,” to 10, “completely anxious.” A rating of at least 6 was reported by 50% of disabled respondents, compared with 33% of non-disabled respondents. Often or always feeling lonely was reported by 23% of disabled respondents and 8% of non-disabled respondents. Among disabled respondents who sometimes, often, or always felt lonely, 68% agreed that being active could help them feel less lonely. This last result records a view about a possible benefit; it does not show a change in anxiety or loneliness. Activity Alliance, Annual Disability and Activity Survey 2025–26

Disabled respondents identified several kinds of support for taking part: 49% said they had family support, 32% reported support from friends, and 12% reported support from support workers, personal assistants, or carers. These figures describe support respondents said they had. They do not measure how much help a person needed, how often it was available, or whether it was available for a particular session. Activity Alliance, Annual Disability and Activity Survey 2025–26

Financial responses covered affordability and reported participation. Among disabled respondents, 46% agreed increased living costs had reduced how active they were, while 31% disagreed. Among non-disabled respondents, 39% agreed and 44% disagreed. Sport and activity were regarded as a luxury rather than a necessity by 45% of disabled respondents, compared with 32% of non-disabled respondents. These responses report views during the survey period; they are not independent measurements of changes in activity attributable to costs. Activity Alliance, Annual Disability and Activity Survey 2025–26

The survey also asked about benefits and financial assistance. Fear that benefits or financial assistance might be taken away was reported by 43% of disabled respondents as something that prevented them from trying to be more active. Another 64% said they relied on benefits or financial assistance to be active. These figures capture reported concerns and reliance, without specifying individual arrangements or how often a concern affected behavior. Activity Alliance, Annual Disability and Activity Survey 2025–26

Physical activity participation among disabled adults statistics: older U.S. adults meeting both guidelines

A 2022 NHIS report measured whether U.S. civilian noninstitutionalized adults age 65 and older met both federal aerobic and muscle-strengthening guidelines during leisure time. The age-adjusted estimate was 5.0% for older adults with disabilities and 15.9% for those without disabilities. These results refer to leisure-time activity among adults age 65 and older, not all adults or movement outside leisure time. NCHS, Characteristics of Older Adults Who Met Federal Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans: United States, 2022

Across adults age 65 and older, 13.9% met both guidelines in 2022, age-adjusted. The age-band estimates were 16.8% for ages 65–74, 12.3% for ages 75–84, and 6.2% for adults age 85 and older. The 13.9% value is the age-adjusted total; the other estimates describe specific age groups. Each refers to the same combined leisure-time guideline outcome. NCHS, Characteristics of Older Adults Who Met Federal Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans: United States, 2022

Sources

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inclusivefitness.org Editorial Team

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