Answered Questions is a monthly resource for the Spanish language Disability Community that fills an information need. This month’s question is I am studying to become a recreational therapist. Where can I find research on recreational therapy interventions for people with disabilities? This edition of Answered Questions includes items that discuss research and development activities related to recreational, sport, and exercise technologies for people with disabilities; the play experiences of children with cerebral palsy; the effect of a recreational therapy program for people with burn injuries; a novel music-based exercise program; discuss a laughter therapy workshop for older adults with and without disabilities; and more. More about Answered Questions.
NIDILRR-Funded Projects:
The Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center (RERC) on Recreational, Sport, and Exercise Technologies for People with Disabilities (in English) conducts research and development projects to address a multilevel set of barriers to participation in healthful recreation, sport, and exercise among adults and children with disabilities. Center projects include a multi-modal and multi-channel telehealth intervention to promote adherence and improved health and function; standards for inclusive playground surfaces, fitness centers, and equipment; a platform to offer physical education inclusion solutions, access to equipment, trainers, and venues; and a study of the barriers and facilitators that impact the participation of children with disabilities in sports and recreation; among other areas.
From the NARIC Collection:
The article, Play experiences of children with a high level of physical disability (in English), discusses a study that explored the experiences of play for children with cerebral palsy (CP) who have a high level of physical disability. In interviews with six children with CP, researchers found that making choices and controlling play were important to the children, that they often experienced play differently than their peers, and that they connected with others in play through humor and communication skills.
The effect of a recreational therapy program on the pain anxiety and quality of life of patients with burn injuries: A randomized clinical trial (in English) describes a study that examined the effect of a recreational therapy program on the anxiety and quality of life (QOL) of people with burn injuries in Iran. The study found that these programs may help to lower pain anxiety and increase QOL and recommend recreational therapy programming for promoting the mental health and QOL of people with burn injuries.
Research In Focus:
A Novel Music-Based Exercise Intervention May Help Improve Physical Functioning in Adults Post-Stroke discusses a NIDILRR-funded study that tested the Movement-to-Music (M2M) program, a is rhythm-based exercise intervention that uses a combination of movement patterns choreographed with music, for people who have had a stroke. The results of this study offer a promising glimpse into potential alternative interventions for improving the physical functioning and quality of life for people after a stroke. This article is also available in English.
Rehabilitation:
The article, Conducting a laughter therapy workshop with a group of elderly people, discusses a qualitative study in Spain of a laughter therapy workshop conducted in four three-hour weekly sessions. In interviews with researchers, participants discussed personal growth and improvements in state of mind or mood as a result of laughter therapy; laughter therapy being considered as a physical and recreational activity; and the strengthening of interpersonal relationships, among other areas. The results of this study show the positive effects of the laughter therapy interventions on the psychological and subjective wellbeing of older adults with and without disabilities.
Inclusion:
The article, Physical-recreational activities and inclusion: An experience of adults with paraplegia from the Asoplegic Association, discusses an observational study by the Asoplegic Association of Guayaquil, Ecuador that showed that physical recreation programs offered by the organization were not fully accessible to participants with paraplegia, which negatively affected their social inclusion. The article presents research that looked at a system of physical-recreational activities that are conducive to the inclusion of adults with paraplegia, including sports activities. Researchers found that the system was useful and beneficial and could be considered a timely alternative to facilitate the inclusion of people with paraplegia.
Interventions:
Animal-assisted interventions refer to any intervention that intentionally includes or incorporates animals as part of a therapeutic, palliative, educational, or recreational process. The article, The contribution of dogs and other animals to social inclusion programmes, introduces animal-assisted interventions, with a special emphasis on their potential for promoting inclusion, and to present a specific case of work with dogs with the non-profit Senderos del Sembrador (Trails of the Sower). The article describes how the contact with dogs was done in a systematic manner, along with outcomes, challenges, and difficulties, and how recreation came to be used as a means of promotive inclusion and altering the preconceptions of people without disabilities.
Resources:
- Are you interested in learning about recreational therapy? NARIC’s Spotlight Podcast described recreational therapy (en inglés) in a recent episode in Spanish. Presenters described what recreational therapy is, discussed some of the types of interventions used during recreational therapy, and some of the benefits for people who receive this type of therapy, among other topics. Transcripts are available in English and Spanish. NARIC’s Spotlight blog posts in English and Spanish on topics related to recreational therapy may be helpful.
Further Research:
REHABDATA:
PubMed:
- Recreational therapy and physical disabilities.
- Recreational therapy and interventions.
- Recreational therapy.
PEDro:
International:
About Answered Questions Each month, we look through the searches on our blog and through the information requests made by our patrons who speak Spanish and pick a topic that fills the largest need. Each resource mentioned above is associated with this month’s information need. We search the various Spanish language news sources and feeds throughout the month to bring you these articles. With the exception of the NIDILRR Projects, From the NARIC Collection, and Further Investigation, all the linked articles and resources are in Spanish – any that are in English will be clearly marked.
[CJ1]Updated to current website: https://www.rectech.org/research-development-training-projects/
