Health and fitness apps have been rising at a rapid rate recently, equating to over 71,000 current fitness apps in the Apple Store and on Google Play.
The global fitness app market size was valued at USD 1.1 billion in 2021 and is expected to expand at an annual growth rate of 17.6% from 2022 to 2030. However, even though the fitness app industry is booming, there is a community that is being left behind.
The disability community accounts for 15% of the global population but currently, no fitness app on the market caters for them.
Co-founded by Rio 2016 Paralympic silver medallist Ali Jawad, Accessercise is the world’s first fitness app that is especially designed for people with disabilities and impairments, and will help break down the barriers that disabled people continue to face within the fitness industry.
With a view to increase connectivity across the disabled fitness community, users of the Accessercise app will also gain access to services and functions. The app’s features include:
- A library of video exercises that are impairment specific to users.
- A social hub to comment on, like, love and share workouts with the disabled community.
- Groups for like-minded individuals to share, love and like their workout journey.
- A explore function which allows users to rate the accessibility of gyms and sports facilities in their local areas.
- A calendar to schedule and plan workouts, set reminders and track training over time.
- Educational nutritional content by qualified NHS dietitians.
According to the Activity Alliance, 90% of people with impairments believe they are still underserved by the app market, with 70% wanting to improve or maintain their physical health. Therefore, the fitness industry cannot continue to fear people with impairments, in fact, it needs to be encouraged to engage and work in collaboration to better understand the needs of people with impairments.
Accessercise has come at the right time for the disability community to empower, educate, and guide them, whilst enabling users to take control of their journeys in the hope the fitness industry takes notice and creates a variety of options like what is currently offered to the general population.
Accessercise could be a significant disruptor within the fitness app industry in modern times, and looks forward to working with the fitness industry in order to increase accessibility for disabled people around the world.
