What fitness professionals think about working with people with disability in exercise settings

First published online 7 July 2024.

Why this study was done

Physical activity is important for everyone’s health, including people with disability. However, people with disability often face barriers to participating in sport and exercise—one of which is negative or unprepared interactions with fitness professionals.

This study aimed to understand how community-based fitness professionals (like personal trainers, coaches, and yoga instructors) in Australia perceive working with people with disability. The goal was to identify what helps or hinders inclusive fitness practices.

What the study did

Researchers interviewed 13 fitness professionals from across Australia. These professionals had varying levels of experience working with people with disability. The interviews explored their beliefs, experiences, and challenges.

The researchers analysed the interviews to identify common themes and insights.

What the study found

Five key themes emerged:

1. Understanding Individual Needs

Fitness professionals emphasised the importance of tailoring their approach to each client’s unique goals and abilities. For people with disability, goals often focused on:

• Social engagement
• Independence
• Confidence and function

Professionals had to be flexible, creative, and responsive to daily changes in their clients’ needs.

2. “You Have to Have a Little Bit of the Knack”

Working with people with disability requires more than technical skills—it also takes empathy, patience, and respect. Key qualities included:

• Letting go of ego
• Listening to the client as the expert of their own body
• Being honest and building trust
• Supporting clients beyond exercise (e.g., with daily tasks or emotional needs)

3. It Needs to Be a Team Approach

Fitness professionals saw value in collaborating with allied health professionals (like physiotherapists or occupational therapists). However, they often felt dismissed or undervalued due to their lower formal qualifications. Better communication and mutual respect were seen as essential for client-centred care.

4. The Barriers of Gym Culture

Many gyms are not physically or socially inclusive. Barriers included:

• Inaccessible buildings and equipment
• Overwhelming sensory environments (e.g., loud music, bright lights)
• A culture focused on performance and aesthetics, which can alienate people with disability

This led many clients to feel that exercise “wasn’t for them.”

5. Change Is Needed

Two major areas for improvement were identified:

• Better Training: Most fitness professionals felt unprepared to work with people with disability. They had to seek out their own learning through trial and error, mentorship, or self-study. They called for disability-specific content in foundational training and ongoing professional development.
• Better Funding: Sessions with clients with disability often took more time and effort. However, funding (especially through Australia’s NDIS) was limited, confusing, and often not worth the administrative burden. This discouraged some professionals from offering inclusive services.

What this means

Community-based fitness professionals can play a powerful role in making sport and exercise more inclusive for people with disability—but they need better training, support, and recognition to do so effectively.

For Practice:

• Fitness professionals need better education and support to work inclusively.
• Gyms and studios should be more accessible and welcoming.
• Funding systems should recognise the extra time and care needed to support people with disability.

For Research:

• More studies are needed to explore how to train fitness professionals effectively.
• Research should also explore how allied health and fitness professionals can collaborate better.

This study was conducted by:

Dr. Jessica Hill, Ms. Kate Gaukroger, A/Prof. Sjaan Gomersall, Prof. Sean Tweedy, Dr. Hannah Gullo & A/Prof. Emma Beckman

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Disclaimer: The QDRN has utilised generative AI to refine the wording of this plain language summary. All content has been checked for accuracy, appropriate tone and clarity and approved by the author.