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

Department of Ophthalmology, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Finland, Airi.Surakka{at}hus.fi

Tero Kivela

Department of Ophthalmology, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Finland

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.

Key Words: instruction methods • motivation • physical training programme • visual impairment

British Journal of Visual Impairment, Vol. 26, No. 3, 255-268 (2008)
DOI: 10.1177/0264619608093643


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