Motivating visually impaired and deaf-blind people to perform regular physical exercises

Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine the different ways in which visually impaired and deaf-blind people can be motivated to perform regular physical exercises through the use of a physical training programme. The programme was designed for visually impaired and deaf-blind people with the aim of reducing their most common physical problems: those of balance, posture, coordination, tense neck and shoulder muscles, and loss of spinal rotation and reciprocal arm swing. Twenty-seven participants (23 visually impaired, 4 deaf-blind; mean age 54 years, range 31 to 75) participated in a 5—6 week physical training programme (three 60-minute sessions per week) in four groups. Twenty-four participants completed the programme, 12 of whom had a `physically active' lifestyle and 12 a `sedentary' lifestyle. After the intervention, the participants assessed the effect of it through a questionnaire. Drawing upon their responses, three different indicators were examined further: physical condition, mental state and balance. All except one of the 24 participants who completed the programme reported that at least one of these indicators had improved.

Keywords

instruction methods motivation physical training programme visual impairment

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