The distribution of physical activity and rehabilitation programs in Saint John, New Brunswick

Abstract

Physical activity (PA) programs are associated with positive health and rehabilitation outcomes. Location and availability of programs can be barriers to PA, exacerbated in Saint John, New Brunswick (SJ), by its large geographical footprint. This research examines the barrier of location in SJ, by providing a detailed compilation of the distribution of programs for PA and rehabiliation [rehabilitation] services. An environmental scan was performed to collect addresses of all physical activity programs. Spatial data analysis using ArcGIS assessed the geographical distribution of programs. Data from 91 PA programs indicated they were more abundant in the centre of the city in areas of lower population. Two organizations offered rehabilitation-specific programs, which focused on minimizing physical decline and improving health. The overall results show a mismatch between program availability and population distribution. SJ could encourage establishment of PA programs in areas where more people live and implementation of additional rehabilitation PA programs.