Regular physical activity provides important health benefits for those with chronic health conditions or disabilities, including cancer survivors and people with osteoarthritis, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, multiple sclerosis, stroke, Parkinson’s Disease, spinal cord injury, dementia, and other cognitive disorders.
Adults with chronic health conditions or disabilities who are able should:
- Get at least 150 minutes (for example, 30 minutes 5 days a week) of moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity a week.
And
- Get at least 2 days a week of muscle- strengthening activities that include all major muscle groups.
If you are unable to meet the recommendations, be as active as you can and try to avoid inactivity.
- Supports daily living activities and independence.
- Immediately helps you feel, function, and sleep better.
- Helps control weight and improves mental health by reducing depression and anxiety.
- Lowers the risk for early death, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and some cancers.
- Decreases pain and improves function in people with osteoarthritis.
- Improves cardiovascular health, muscle fitness, and brain health.
Aerobic
- Walking, wheelchair rolling, or biking to places.
- Swimming or water aerobics.
Muscle- strengthening
- Some yoga postures.
- Strengthening exercises using exercise bands, weight machines, or handheld weights.
Source: Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans pdf icon[PDF-14.4MB]external icon, 2nd edition (Chapter 6, pages 42–44pdf iconexternal icon, 80–81pdf iconexternal icon).
Note: If you have chronic health conditions or disabilities, you can consult a health care professional or physical activity specialist about the types and amounts of activity appropriate for your abilities. Learn more about increasing physical activity for adults with disabilities.
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