Physical Activity Participation in Individuals with Visual Impairments: A Rapid Review of Multilevel Barriers, Facilitators, and Policy Implications

Background: Individuals with visual impairments (VIs) consistently report lower levels of physical activity (PA) than the general population, contributing to significant health and psychosocial disparities. Despite increasing attention to inclusive PA, evidence remains fragmented and lacks recent, policy-relevant synthesis. Objective: To synthesize recent evidence on barriers and facilitators to PA participation among individuals with VIs using a multilevel ecological perspective. Methods: A rapid review was conducted following Cochrane rapid review guidance. PubMed was searched for studies published between 2020 and 2025. Eligible studies included quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods designs examining PA participation, barriers, facilitators, or interventions among individuals with VIs. Risk of bias was assessed using AMSTAR-2 and CASP tools. Findings were synthesized narratively. Results: The database search yielded 505 records. After screening titles and abstracts, nine papers, comprising one systematic review and eight primary studies, were incorporated into the final synthesis. Identified obstacles to PA were categorized into three domains: environmental (inaccessible facilities and transportation), social (stigma, low expectations, and inadequately trained instructors), and psychological (poor self-efficacy, fear of injury, and internalized burden). The most commonly mentioned facilitators were structured and modified PA programs, teacher proficiency, and peer support, with assistive technologies noted as an emerging but evidence-limited area. Engagement in inclusive physical exercise interventions correlated with favorable psychosocial outcomes, such as enhanced confidence, autonomy, social inclusion, and improved subjective quality of life. Nonetheless, evidence from low- and middle-income countries was limited. Conclusions: PA participation among individuals with VIs is constrained primarily by structural and social barriers rather than impairment alone. Addressing these barriers requires coordinated policy action, universal design implementation, professional training, and equitable access to adaptive technologies. Future research must move beyond descriptive studies toward testing scalable, context-sensitive interventions.