Navigating Barriers and Facilitators: A Qualitative Analysis of Exercise Professionals’ Perceptions of Physical Activity for Adults With Disabilities

Despite the established benefits of physical activity, adults with disabilities experience significant disparities in participation. Exercise professionals are uniquely positioned to play a role in bridging this gap, making an understanding of their experiences critical. This qualitative study explored the perceived barriers and facilitators for Qualified Exercise Professionals in Italy when delivering programs for adults with disabilities. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 22 experienced Qualified Exercise Professionals and analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. Findings revealed three interconnected challenges: systemic constraints, including prohibitive costs and inaccessible facilities; a profound gap between theoretical education and practical demands, fuelling a fear of causing harm; and the unrecognized emotional labor of client advocacy. The therapeutic alliance emerged as the single most important facilitator. These results underscore an urgent need for educational reform, incorporating mandatory practical placements to build professional confidence, and for policy changes to dismantle the structural barriers that inhibit participation.