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Healthcare
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Enhancing Physical and Mental Well-Being in People with Disabilities
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Enhancing Physical and Mental Well-Being in People with Disabilities

A special issue of Healthcare (ISSN 2227-9032).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2026 | Viewed by 3075

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Jereme D. Wilroy

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA
Interests: physical disability; spinal cord injury; exercise; adherence; psychosocial factors; telehealth; eHealth; mHealth; behavior modification
Dr. Yumi Kim

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Health Professions, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA
Interests: disability; exercise and physical activity; health promotion; telehealth; behavior change; systematic reviews

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Promoting the physical and mental well-being of people with disabilities is an urgent public health priority and a growing area of interdisciplinary research. Individuals with disabilities often encounter substantial barriers to health and wellness, including limited access to healthcare services, inaccessible environments, inadequate provider training, and social determinants that compound health inequities. These challenges can contribute to preventable secondary conditions, increased mental health concerns, reduced quality of life, and decreased community participation.

This Special Issue aims to spotlight innovative research and practical approaches that foster holistic well-being among people with disabilities across the lifespan. Enhancing well-being requires more than managing health conditions—it involves empowering individuals through inclusive health promotion strategies, adaptive physical activity programs, integrated mental health support, and person-centered care models that address both physical and psychosocial needs.

We welcome contributions that explore factors influencing well-being, interventions designed to promote resilience and health, and system-level strategies to reduce disparities. Studies may address diverse disability populations and incorporate a wide range of methodologies, including observational and longitudinal research, intervention trials, qualitative studies, implementation research, case studies, study protocols, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses. Priority will be given to work that centers the lived experiences of people with disabilities and offers actionable insights for clinicians, researchers, policymakers, and community leaders.

Dr. Jereme D. Wilroy
Dr. Yumi Kim
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Healthcare is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • disability health
  • physical health
  • mental health
  • health disparities
  • accessibility
  • rehabilitation
  • adaptive physical activity
  • inclusive healthcare
  • health promotion
  • psychosocial well-being
  • integrated care
  • quality of life

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

19 pages, 585 KB  
Article
Scaling up an Evidence-Based Exercise Intervention for Wide-Scale Implementation: A Conceptual Roadmap Using the PRACTIS Framework
by Louise Declerck, Trinh L. T. Huynh and Robert W. Motl
Healthcare 2026, 14(6), 720; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare14060720 - 11 Mar 2026
Viewed by 466
Abstract
Background: Exercise is safe and beneficial for managing symptoms, preventing progression, and enhancing the physical and mental well-being of people with multiple sclerosis (MS). Such evidence has supported prescriptive guidelines delivered alongside behavioral interventions to promote and sustain exercise behavior. Evidence-based exercise training [...] Read more.
Background: Exercise is safe and beneficial for managing symptoms, preventing progression, and enhancing the physical and mental well-being of people with multiple sclerosis (MS). Such evidence has supported prescriptive guidelines delivered alongside behavioral interventions to promote and sustain exercise behavior. Evidence-based exercise training interventions now exist for people with MS, such as Project GEMS, a home-based program grounded in MS-specific exercise training guidelines and supported by principles of behavior change based on social–cognitive theory. The field is now ready for the process of translating evidence-based programs from research settings into clinical or community contexts for greater reach and accessibility, but dissemination and implementation remain significant challenges. Objectives: The current paper presents a conceptual roadmap for implementing a validated home-based exercise training intervention for people with MS, originally tested in controlled research environments, within the broader community context. This is guided by the PRACTIS framework for scaling up physical activity/exercise interventions. Roadmap: Our paper presents a conceptual example along with details regarding strategic adaptations for tailoring the remote GEMS program for a diverse and wide MS population, integrating input from community stakeholders and ensuring long-term sustainability through collaborative researcher–stakeholder partnerships. Such an initiative may bridge the gap between research and practice in the domains of exercise training and behavioral interventions for people with MS and further serve as a scalable model for promoting exercise behavior in other neurological conditions by expanding accessibility for effective digital resources. Conclusion: The design of the exercise intervention discussed in this paper offers one example and conceptual pathway for expanding access for evidence-based exercise programs at the wider level. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Enhancing Physical and Mental Well-Being in People with Disabilities)
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16 pages, 970 KB  
Article
From Hidden Insights to Better Understanding: Physicians’ Perspectives on Caregivers’ Tacit Knowledge
by Sylvia A. Huisman, Kasper Kruithof, Maartje Hoogsteyns, Appolonia M. Nieuwenhuijse, Dick L. Willems and Ilse H. Zaal-Schuller
Healthcare 2026, 14(1), 25; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare14010025 - 22 Dec 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 817
Abstract
Background: Diagnosing physical and mental health issues in individuals with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities (PIMD) often proves challenging, as these patients are unable to speak for themselves. Caregivers’ tacit knowledge (TK) refers to interpreting non-verbal signs, and is difficult to communicate with [...] Read more.
Background: Diagnosing physical and mental health issues in individuals with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities (PIMD) often proves challenging, as these patients are unable to speak for themselves. Caregivers’ tacit knowledge (TK) refers to interpreting non-verbal signs, and is difficult to communicate with physicians. As limited research exists on physicians’ perspectives, we aimed to explore how intellectual disability physicians (ID physicians) perceive and value caregivers’ TK. Methods: Semi-structured interviews with ID physicians (n = 10), focusing on their perceptions and experiences with caregivers’ TK in medical care for people with PIMD, were analyzed thematically with an interpretive approach to identify key patterns and insights. Results: ID physicians perceived caregivers’ TK as a critical ability to pick up subtle signs and irregularities or as a deep sensing something is wrong, with the latter being more difficult to communicate. They understood the importance of TK for diagnostic cues and of collaborative relationships to explicate TK. Conclusions: We describe how integrating caregivers’ TK with medical knowledge relies on trust and partnership. Moreover, we discuss how to overcome communication barriers and to improve medical care in co-production with caregivers in order to enhance the physical and mental well-being of people with PIMD. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Enhancing Physical and Mental Well-Being in People with Disabilities)
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16 pages, 242 KB  
Article
Professionals’ Perceptions on Implementing an Adapted Lifestyle Coaching Program for People with Physical Disabilities
by Elizabeth H. Douma, Trynke Hoekstra, Jesse K. Nijboer, Martin Fluit, Lieneke Vos and Femke Hoekstra
Healthcare 2025, 13(16), 1978; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13161978 - 12 Aug 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 888
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Evidence-based lifestyle coaching programs have been developed to support people with disabilities in adopting healthy behaviors, and to ultimately contribute to enhancing their overall well-being. However, when implementing such programs in new settings, adaptations may be needed to ensure a successful implementation [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Evidence-based lifestyle coaching programs have been developed to support people with disabilities in adopting healthy behaviors, and to ultimately contribute to enhancing their overall well-being. However, when implementing such programs in new settings, adaptations may be needed to ensure a successful implementation process. This study aimed to explore professionals’ perceptions on an adapted evidence-informed lifestyle coaching program (Healthy Habits Coaching) for people with physical disabilities to inform the implementation of the program in Dutch rehabilitation and/or community settings. Methods: A qualitative study with semi-structured interviews was conducted. The study was performed from a pragmatic perspective using an integrated knowledge translation approach. Ten professionals who had experience with offering, delivering, and/or implementing lifestyle coaching programs were enrolled. Interview questions focused on participants’ perceptions on implementing the Healthy Habits Coaching in Dutch settings. A directed content analysis was used to analyze the data. Results: Participants highlighted the importance of implementing lifestyle coaching tailored to people with physical disabilities. While participants were generally positive about the implementation of Healthy Habits Coaching, they had mixed opinions on its added value alongside existing lifestyle programs and on the core components, particularly the free coaching model and the use of volunteer coaches with lived experience. Participants underlined that for a successful adoption and implementation, the added value, (scientific) foundation, financial basis, and organizational structure of the program should be clearly communicated. Conclusions: The findings provide directions for how, where, and by whom an adapted lifestyle program (Healthy Habits Coaching) for people with physical disabilities could be implemented in Dutch rehabilitation and community settings. This study demonstrates an example of how an evidence-based lifestyle program can be prepared for implementation in a new setting, presenting an efficient and promising strategy to enhance overall well-being among people with disabilities. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Enhancing Physical and Mental Well-Being in People with Disabilities)
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