3 min
Do exercises at your own pace, no travel time and feel fitter
Badhoevedorp - Fonds Gehandicaptensport has today officially launched the new Unique Sports app today, which includes an important part: sports and exercise at home. This app ensures that the group of 1.7 million people with a disability, who are often inactive due to insufficient access to sports, start exercising again. Just from home.
Physical inactivity, obesity and low vitality are a major problem for people with a disability. A problem that is partly caused by a lack of tailored lifestyle advice, poor accessibility of sports facilities and negative experiences and obstacles to sports. Research by Statistics Netherlands and RIVM shows that only 34% of Dutch people with a physical disability meet the exercise guidelines and that only 27% of this group participate in sports on a weekly basis. These percentages are 54% in the general Dutch population.
Digital lifestyle program
In response to this undesirable situation, Fonds Gehandicaptensport, HvA and InHolland and fitness software company Virtuagym in 2020 signed a letter of intent to develop Unique Sports at Home. This is a digital lifestyle program to promote an active lifestyle, a healthy diet and a healthy balance between exercise and relaxation. The project is a follow-up to the RAAK public project Wheelchair Exercise and Lifestyle Study (WHEELS), in which a first version of the lifestyle program was developed in co-creation with rehabilitation and lifestyle professionals from Reade and Heliomare, wheelchair users, (teacher) researchers and students. The All-in-One fitness app provider Virtuagym has recently supported Fonds Gehandicaptensport with the further development of the app for end users.
Hugo Braam, co-founder and CEO, Virtuagym: “We believe technology plays an essential role in making fitness and health widely accessible to more people than ever before. We are proud of our partnership with Fonds Gehandicaptensport, using our innovative digital solutions to support them in creating a tool for workouts and promoting a healthy lifestyle for everyone, regardless of their challenges or limitations.”*
More than 4000 exercises and movement videos
Research by Fonds Gehandicaptensport and the Mulier Institute “Barriers and needs of people with disabilities in sports and exercise participation” shows that being able to do exercises at one’s own pace, reducing travel time and feeling fitter are all advantages. Strengthened by the positive experience, one can then take the next step to join a fitness club or association. With more than 4,000 exercises, specific training and nutrition programs and relaxation exercises, the app ensures that people with disabilities can also stay fit from home. The community function, for making connections with others easily, also reduces the changes of loneliness.
Nike Boor, director of Fonds Gehandicaptensport: “When you exercise at home, you can be who you are. You will also not be distracted by other people and you can fully focus on your own progress. Unique Sports at Home is a positive stimulus for the many people with disabilities who are inactive due to insufficient access to sports. In addition, Uniek Sporten makes you fitter at home and also gives you the opportunity to learn more about Uniek Sporten.”
The Uniek Sports app can be downloaded from https://www.unieksporten.nl/thuis
