Are Health Clubs Accessible?

Rimmer, J. H., Riley, B., Wang, E., & Rauworth, A. E. (2005). Accessibility of health clubs for people with mobility disabilities and visual impairments. American Journal of Public Health, 95(11), 2022-2028.

Investigators examined the accessibility of health clubs for persons with mobility disabilities and visual impairments. Thirty-five health clubs and fitness facilities were tested in a national field trial using a new instrument, Accessibility Instruments Measuring Fitness and Recreation Environments (AIMFREE), for measuring the accessibility of fitness facilities in the following domains: (1) built environment, (2) equipment, (3) swimming pools, (4) information, (5) facility policies, and (6) professional behavior.

All facilities demonstrated low to moderate levels of accessibility. While some of the deficiencies concerned specific Americans with Disabilities Act guidelines pertaining to the built environment, others were related to aspects of the facilities’ equipment, information, policies, and professional staff.

This fact sheet was last updated on 01-30-2006.