# Structure of Weekly and Daily Physical Activity of Adults with Moderate and Severe Intellectual Disabilities in the Context of Barriers in Accessibility: A Preliminary Study

## TL;DR

This study examines physical activity levels and barriers among adults with intellectual disabilities, finding that they are more active during weekdays and in occupational therapy workshops.

## Contribution

The study provides new insights into physical activity patterns and barriers for adults with intellectual disabilities in occupational therapy settings.

## Key findings

- Participants were significantly more active on weekdays than weekends.
- Workshops contributed to 40% of the mean weekday step count.
- Lack of willpower and skills were the most cited barriers to physical activity.

## Abstract

Background: The purpose of the study was to assess the level of physical activity (PA) and identify barriers to PA for adults with intellectual disabilities attending occupational therapy workshops (OTW). Method: Forty-three people participated in the study. PA level (step count) was evaluated using the Garmin Vivofit 4. Barriers were identified using the Barriers to Being Active Quiz. Results: The mean weekly steps were 10,581 ± 3981. Respondents were significantly more active on weekdays compared to weekends (p < 0.0002). During their stay at OTW, the participants took an average of 4257 steps, which was 40% of the mean step count on weekdays. Among the identified barriers to undertaking PA, lack of willpower and lack of skills were most frequently cited among the respondents. Conclusions: The level of PA was relatively high and showed great individual variation. The high level of activity during the participants’ stays in OTW indicates important role of these workshops in increasing PA in adults with intellectual disability.