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.