Training People With Disabilities

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One in four adults in the United States is reported to have a disability (Okoro et al. 2018), and the growing population of people with disabilities can put a considerable demand on medical services and senior program costs. Yet, a disability does not automatically preclude an ability to train.

Fitness professionals can help. Expanding the availability of evidence-based physical activity interventions can help improve the quality of life for people with disabilities and lessen the deleterious effects of their conditions. In this research column, we provide exercise recommendations for clients with four common disabilities: arthritis, hearing disabilities, visual impairments and intellectual disabilities.

Physical Activity Matters for People With Disabilities

Regular physical activity is associated with positive outcomes in muscular strength, functional skills, psychosocial well-being, cardiometabolic health and decreased body composition in PLWD.

According to Ginis et al. (2021), people living with disabilities (PLWD) have poorer health than the general population and are at a greater risk for developing chronic diseases, injuries and age-related health conditions at earlier stages of life. The researchers submit that 16%–62% of PLWD are less likely than those without disabilities to meet physical activity guidelines for a variety of reasons (see “Fitness and Recreation Program Barriers for PLWD,” below).

The good news is that evidence from Ginis and colleagues also shows that regular physical activity is associated with positive outcomes in muscular strength, functional skills, psychosocial well-being, cardiometabolic health and decreased body composition in PLWD.

Before you begin working with persons with any type of disability, it’s important to obtain a list of medications they are taking and become aware of any possible contraindications to exercise. You may also find it helpful to speak with their healthcare provider. Then consider these exercise programming options, tailored to meet the needs of those with disabilities.

See also: Create Inclusivity for Special Populations

Arthritis

Arthritis is the most common cause of physical disability in the U.S., impacting approximately 54.6 million adults (Guglielmo et al. 2021). Arthritis is associated with a reduced quality of life that can also negatively impact a person’s work productivity (e.g., limitations in writing, typing, lifting and walking) through lost time and diminished physical function (Levy et al. 2012). Clients of all ages who have arthritis will often have disease-related obesity and a loss of muscle mass (Lange et al. 2019).

Exercise Programming

Initially, inform clients with arthritis that there is no documented evidence that exercise will do further harm to their joints (Lange et al. 2019). Next, evaluate each client’s physical capabilities. Find out their attitude regarding their condition, discuss what type of physical activities they have access to and are interested in doing, and help them develop meaningful lifetime movement goals. Interestingly, exercise programs for people with arthritis are more effective when supervised (Kolasinski et al. 2020).

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC 2018), men and women with arthritis should follow the 2018 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans for active adults or active older adults (whichever matches their age and ability). (Learn more in “Inside the Latest Physical Activity Guidelines” at ideafit.com.) We encourage a multicomponent exercise approach (i.e., aerobic activity, muscle strengthening and balance training).

As an initial target goal for the aerobic exercise component, the Physical Activity Guidelines suggest that adults ages 65 and older participate in aerobic exercise at moderate intensity (relative to the person’s fitness level) for 30 minutes or more each day. The American College of Rheumatology/Arthritis Foundation Guideline recommendations submit that walking (i.e., treadmill or indoor fitness walking) is the most popular form of exercise researched with arthritis studies (Kolasinski et al. 2020). Some studies have successfully used group cycling. Kolasinski et al. add that aquatic exercise is also a favorable option.

For muscle strengthening, a power training and/or resistance training approach is recommended. A suggestion from the Physical Activity Guidelines is to do muscle strengthening training two times per week for the major muscle groups of the body. Start with single-set training, and then increase the intensity prior to adding sets.

Hearing Disabilities

Okoro et al. report that nearly 6% of the population in the U.S. has a hearing disability. Hearing loss will impair a person’s spoken language, and it may negatively impact cognition (the mental process of acquiring knowledge) and social well-being (Haile et al. 2021). Akinoğlu & Kocahan (2019) summarize research indicating persons who are hard of hearing have lesser ability to move their body extremities independently, control the speed of their movements, maintain static balance and perform dynamic coordination of their body as compared with people with “normal” hearing. People with hearing disabilities may have difficulty performing daily activities that involve balance.

Exercise Programming

Training programs should be customized to the individual’s specific needs and limitations (Reich & Lavay 2009). Walowska, Bolach & Bolach (2018) highlight that since hearing loss may impair control of balance and muscle coordination, trainers should focus attention on exercises associated with maintaining balance.

Although there are currently no national guidelines for exercise programming for people who are hard of hearing, Baek et al. (2021) evaluated the practical outcomes of a community-based exercise program with men and women ages 40 and older with auditory, visual and physical impairments. In this 3-month study, the researchers had participants combine 30 minutes of strength training (moderate-intensity band training of the major muscle groups) with 30 minutes of aerobic exercise (moderate-intensity [RPE 11–14] indoor cycling) twice a week. Participants attained a decrease in body mass index and percentage of body fat and an increase in sit-to-stand strength after 12 weeks of participation.

Akinoğlu & Kocahan summarize research indicating that sporting activities are practical interventions for individuals who are hard of hearing. Sports participation will help this population increase their muscular strength, balance skills, psychomotor abilities and physical fitness.

Fit pros working with those with hearing disabilities should adapt their teaching according to their clients’ needs. For example, understand how far away you can stand from your clients so they can hear you. Face your clients and make eye contact when giving exercise instructions. Consider turning down (or off) distracting fans, air conditioners and music when giving verbal instructions. Keep verbal instructions short and precise, demonstrating exercises whenever possible (Reich & Lavay 2009).

See also: Adapt Your Personal Training Space for People With Disabilities

Visual Impairments

Feedback is critical when training people with visual disabilities.

More than 1 million people in the U.S. are blind, and over 3.2 million people have vision impairments (CDC 2020). Malik et al. (2021) state that people with visual impairments are less likely to participate in physical activity than their sighted peers, and Morelli, Foley & Folmer (2010) add that people with low vision are at greater risk to develop obesity. Notably, visually impaired clients often have difficulty seeing movement cues—especially fast directional arm and hand movements—provided via the mirrors in a class.

Exercise Programming

Encourage adults with visual impairments to safely engage in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity and reduce sedentary time (Haegele & Zhu 2021). Individualizing the Physical Activity Guidelines for a client’s needs and abilities appears to be a prudent plan for fitness pros to follow.

Feedback is critical when training people with visual disabilities. Use descriptive verbal instructions whenever possible, providing step-by step directions and using familiar cues for body positions in exercise (Malik et al. 2021).

Emphasize exercise safety. Ray & Wolf (2008) explain that older visually impaired persons may have difficulty walking because of a compromised ability to preview their environment. Balance and gait difficulties in older adults are associated with increased fall risk and poor balance confidence. Provide a variety of balance exercises in the exercise program.

Intellectual Disabilities

In 2010, President Obama passed Rosa’s Law, which replaced the term mental retardation with intellectual disability when referenced in federal law. Persons with intellectual disabilities have difficulty in processing, responding and communicating. They have a deficit in cognitive functioning and social domains (Jacinto et al. 2021).

Those with intellectual disorders tend to be sedentary and have a higher mortality rate than the general population (Messent, Cooke & Long 1998). They also have a higher prevalence of obesity, hypertension and metabolic syndrome (Jacinto et al. 2021). However, Messent, Cooke & Long (1998) note that weight management goals are achievable for persons with mild-to-moderate intellectual disabilities, emphasizing the importance of promoting exercise.

Exercise Programming

In a systematic review, Jacinto and colleagues proposed that resistance exercise programs—up to three sessions a week, lasting 45–60 minutes—are beneficial. Selecting six or seven different exercises (avoiding free weights) and performing 2 or 3 sets of 6–12 repetitions has been shown to result in increases in strength and balance and decreases in fat and waist circumference in adults with intellectual disabilities.

Regarding aerobic exercise, the World Health Organization recommends that adults living with a disability (including intellectual) should strive to complete at least 150–300 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity; or at least 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic physical activity; or an equivalent combination of moderate- and vigorous-intensity activity throughout the week (WHO 2020).

See also: The Power of Exercise for the Autism Community

The Ability to Help People With Disabilities

Fit pros are well-positioned to help PLWD overcome obstacles to health inequities by providing personalized and group instruction and introducing health-promoting behaviors. You can make a positive difference in the lives of PLWD! It is time. Go for it!