Barriers faced by people with disabilities in mainstream sports: a systematic review
IntroductionDespite advances in inclusive policies and social awareness, the participation of people with disabilities (PwD) in mainstream sports remains limited due to numerous barriers. This systematic review seeks to identify and critically analyse the main obstacles hindering equitable participa...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-02-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Sports and Active Living |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fspor.2025.1520962/full |
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| author | Pablo Elipe-Lorenzo Pablo Elipe-Lorenzo Pelayo Diez-Fernández Pelayo Diez-Fernández Pelayo Diez-Fernández Brais Ruibal-Lista Brais Ruibal-Lista Brais Ruibal-Lista Sergio López-García Sergio López-García Sergio López-García Sergio López-García |
| author_facet | Pablo Elipe-Lorenzo Pablo Elipe-Lorenzo Pelayo Diez-Fernández Pelayo Diez-Fernández Pelayo Diez-Fernández Brais Ruibal-Lista Brais Ruibal-Lista Brais Ruibal-Lista Sergio López-García Sergio López-García Sergio López-García Sergio López-García |
| author_sort | Pablo Elipe-Lorenzo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | IntroductionDespite advances in inclusive policies and social awareness, the participation of people with disabilities (PwD) in mainstream sports remains limited due to numerous barriers. This systematic review seeks to identify and critically analyse the main obstacles hindering equitable participation of PwD in conventional sports, while proposing evidence-based strategies to overcome these challenges.MethodsFollowing PRISMA guidelines, a comprehensive search was conducted on Web of Science and SCOPUS databases, covering studies published between 2000 and 2024. After applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, 17 studies were selected for analysis.ResultsThe findings highlight major barriers, including insufficient training for coaches and sports club managers, negative and discriminatory attitudes, an entrenched ableist mindset, limited access to information, and a lack of accessible facilities. These factors collectively impede the active participation of PwD in sports.DiscussionTo overcome these challenges, a coordinated approach is essential, encompassing attitude transformation, targeted training for sports personnel, the implementation of inclusive policies, economic incentives, and enhanced communication strategies. Additional recommendations include integrating universal design principles into sports facilities, establishing support networks and fostering a cultural shift in societal perceptions of disability.
Systematic Review RegistrationPROSPERO (CRD42024544589). |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-0059c098ea23434a9a6e6a67cc8bdf33 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2624-9367 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Sports and Active Living |
| spelling | doaj-art-0059c098ea23434a9a6e6a67cc8bdf332025-02-03T06:33:31ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Sports and Active Living2624-93672025-02-01710.3389/fspor.2025.15209621520962Barriers faced by people with disabilities in mainstream sports: a systematic reviewPablo Elipe-Lorenzo0Pablo Elipe-Lorenzo1Pelayo Diez-Fernández2Pelayo Diez-Fernández3Pelayo Diez-Fernández4Brais Ruibal-Lista5Brais Ruibal-Lista6Brais Ruibal-Lista7Sergio López-García8Sergio López-García9Sergio López-García10Sergio López-García11Facultad de Educación, Universidad Pontificia de Salamanca, Salamanca, EspañaGrupo de Investigación en Actividad Física, Deporte y Salud (GIADES), Facultad de Educación, Universidad Pontificia de Salamanca, Salamanca, SpainFacultad de Educación, Universidad Pontificia de Salamanca, Salamanca, EspañaGrupo de Investigación en Actividad Física, Deporte y Salud (GIADES), Facultad de Educación, Universidad Pontificia de Salamanca, Salamanca, SpainUnidad Consolidada de Investigación de Castilla y León, (UIC 382), Salamanca, SpainGrupo de Investigación en Actividad Física, Deporte y Salud (GIADES), Facultad de Educación, Universidad Pontificia de Salamanca, Salamanca, SpainUnidad Consolidada de Investigación de Castilla y León, (UIC 382), Salamanca, SpainEUM Fray Luis de León, Universidad Católica de Ávila, Valladolid, EspañaFacultad de Educación, Universidad Pontificia de Salamanca, Salamanca, EspañaGrupo de Investigación en Actividad Física, Deporte y Salud (GIADES), Facultad de Educación, Universidad Pontificia de Salamanca, Salamanca, SpainUnidad Consolidada de Investigación de Castilla y León, (UIC 382), Salamanca, SpainFacultad de Educación, Universidad de Salamanca, Salamanca, EspañaIntroductionDespite advances in inclusive policies and social awareness, the participation of people with disabilities (PwD) in mainstream sports remains limited due to numerous barriers. This systematic review seeks to identify and critically analyse the main obstacles hindering equitable participation of PwD in conventional sports, while proposing evidence-based strategies to overcome these challenges.MethodsFollowing PRISMA guidelines, a comprehensive search was conducted on Web of Science and SCOPUS databases, covering studies published between 2000 and 2024. After applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, 17 studies were selected for analysis.ResultsThe findings highlight major barriers, including insufficient training for coaches and sports club managers, negative and discriminatory attitudes, an entrenched ableist mindset, limited access to information, and a lack of accessible facilities. These factors collectively impede the active participation of PwD in sports.DiscussionTo overcome these challenges, a coordinated approach is essential, encompassing attitude transformation, targeted training for sports personnel, the implementation of inclusive policies, economic incentives, and enhanced communication strategies. Additional recommendations include integrating universal design principles into sports facilities, establishing support networks and fostering a cultural shift in societal perceptions of disability. Systematic Review RegistrationPROSPERO (CRD42024544589).https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fspor.2025.1520962/fulldisabilitybarriersmainstream sportsinclusioninclusive policies |
| spellingShingle | Pablo Elipe-Lorenzo Pablo Elipe-Lorenzo Pelayo Diez-Fernández Pelayo Diez-Fernández Pelayo Diez-Fernández Brais Ruibal-Lista Brais Ruibal-Lista Brais Ruibal-Lista Sergio López-García Sergio López-García Sergio López-García Sergio López-García Barriers faced by people with disabilities in mainstream sports: a systematic review Frontiers in Sports and Active Living disability barriers mainstream sports inclusion inclusive policies |
| title | Barriers faced by people with disabilities in mainstream sports: a systematic review |
| title_full | Barriers faced by people with disabilities in mainstream sports: a systematic review |
| title_fullStr | Barriers faced by people with disabilities in mainstream sports: a systematic review |
| title_full_unstemmed | Barriers faced by people with disabilities in mainstream sports: a systematic review |
| title_short | Barriers faced by people with disabilities in mainstream sports: a systematic review |
| title_sort | barriers faced by people with disabilities in mainstream sports a systematic review |
| topic | disability barriers mainstream sports inclusion inclusive policies |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fspor.2025.1520962/full |
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