The Physical Activity Level, Body Composition, and Cardiometabolic Health of People with Physical Disabilities due to Neurological Conditions attending a Community-Based Exercise Program: A Cross-sectional Study

Physical inactivity is a prevalent health concern associated with numerous chronic conditions, including hypertension, diabetes mellitus, stroke, myocardial infarction, and cancer. A recent report suggests that physical activity (PA) engagement of the general population varies, with as low as half of the population not meeting the recommended PA guideline. People with physical disabilities due to neurological conditions (PwD-NC) are even more prone to inactivity and extended bouts of sedentary behaviour due to decreased functional status, deconditioning and cardiovascular limitation as a result of a neurological condition. According to a recent World Health Organization report, people with disabilities are even more susceptible to these co-occurring diseases due to a lack of physical activity, which can significantly reduce well-being and quality of life, while increasing morbidity and mortality. Given the established association between insufficient PA and various cardiovascular and metabolic disorders such as hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, stroke and cancer, it is essential to examine whether individuals attending community-based exercise clinics engage in adequate exercise during clinic sessions and/or maintain sufficient activity levels outside the clinical setting.