OBJECTIVE: To examine the effects of a resistance-training program on athletes with intellectual disabilities (ID). DESIGN/PARTICIPANTS: 2-way (2 x 2), repeated-measures analysis of variance on 2 groups (males and females); 30 Special Olympics (SO) athletes, age 16-22 (16 males, 14 females). INTERVENTION/OUTCOME MEASURES: Resistance training, twice per week, for 3 months on Med-X weight equipment. […]
Abstract Topics: Program Evaluation
Feasibility and effectiveness of an aerobic exercise program in children with fibromyalgia: results of a randomized controlled pilot trial.
OBJECTIVE: To determine the feasibility of conducting a randomized controlled trial of a 12-week exercise intervention in children with fibromyalgia (FM) and to explore the effectiveness of aerobic exercise on physical fitness, function, pain, FM symptoms, and quality of life (QOL). METHODS: FM patients ages 8-18 years were randomized to a 12-week exercise intervention of […]
Nutrition education and support program for community-dwelling adults with intellectual disabilities.
To test the efficacy, acceptability, and appropriateness of a nutrition education and support program, 4 community-based group homes for adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities participated in a pilot intervention with extended baseline period and pre-post-test design. Adults (N = 32) with intellectual or developmental disabilities, 20 direct service staff, 4 managers of group homes, […]
Preventing recurrent pressure ulcers in veterans with spinal cord injury: impact of a structured education and follow-up intervention.
OBJECTIVE: To test the hypothesis that enhanced education and structured follow-up after pressure ulcer surgery will result in fewer recurrences. DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial. SETTING: Veterans Affairs medical center. PARTICIPANTS: Forty-nine veteran men with spinal cord injury or dysfunction were approached on admission for pressure ulcer surgery. Five never had surgery, 2 refused to participate, […]
Physical activity and quality of life experienced by highly active individuals with physical disabilities.
The present study examined links between physical activity and quality of life experienced by individuals with physical disabilities recruited from a wheelchair user’s basketball tournament. The participants included 12 male and 14 female adults between the ages of 18-54 (M=31.12, SD=10.75) who all reported one or more condition(s) that impacted their daily living. They were […]
Results of an innovative university-based recovery education program for adults with psychiatric disabilities.
This study examined the effectiveness of an educational approach to psychiatric rehabilitation called the Recovery Center. Using a quasi-experimental design we recruited 97 intervention and 81 comparison participants and examined the intervention’s impact on health, mental health, subjective, and role functioning outcomes. Results suggested that this intervention was effective in improving subjective outcomes, especially empowerment […]
Learning what matters for patients: qualitative evaluation of a health promotion program for those with serious mental illness.
Sedentary lifestyle, poor dietary behaviors and metabolic alterations associated with psychiatric medications contribute to poor health and high rates of obesity among individuals with serious mental illness (SMI). Interventions that increase engagement in physical exercise, dietary modifications, lifestyle changes and preventive health care can provide health benefits across the lifespan. These interventions have led to […]
Effects of intense exercise in chronic spinal cord injury.
BACKGROUND: Exercise has beneficial effects on muscle and motor function after spinal cord injury (SCI). Little is known regarding effects of prolonged intense exercise (IE) in humans with chronic SCI. DESIGN: Prospective, non-randomized, controlled observational study. The intervention was either a multimodal IE program (n=21) or a control (CTL) intervention consisting of self-regulated exercise (n=8). […]
Outcomes of the Veterans Affairs Low Vision Intervention Trial (LOVIT).
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of a low-vision rehabilitation program. METHODS: A multicenter randomized clinical trial was conducted from November 2004 to November 2006 with a 4-month follow-up. A total of 126 patients were included, 98% of whom were white and male. The patients were referred from eye or low-vision clinics and blind rehabilitation centers […]
Health-related quality of life following blind rehabilitation.
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of residential blind rehabilitation on patients’ vision-targeted health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and general physical and mental function. METHOD: The National Eye Institute 25-item Visual Function Questionnaire (NEI VFQ) plus appendix questions, the 12-item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-12), Hope Scale and Coopersmith self-esteem inventory […]