Pedals possible: a pilot study of adaptive cycling as a school-based rehabilitation intervention for students with disabilities
IntroductionPediatric therapists in school-based practice can incorporate exercise promotion through adaptive cycling for children with disabilities who experience high levels of sedentary behavior and low levels of moderate to vigorous activity.MethodsThe impacts of an adaptive cycling pilot progra...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-01-01
|
| Series: | Frontiers in Pediatrics |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fped.2024.1463838/full |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849221718684467200 |
|---|---|
| author | Julia S. Brennan Everette Keller Elizabeth Humanitzki Jessica Nichole Wade Chad Catledge Stephen Houston Jonathan Beall Cynthia B. Dodds |
| author_facet | Julia S. Brennan Everette Keller Elizabeth Humanitzki Jessica Nichole Wade Chad Catledge Stephen Houston Jonathan Beall Cynthia B. Dodds |
| author_sort | Julia S. Brennan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | IntroductionPediatric therapists in school-based practice can incorporate exercise promotion through adaptive cycling for children with disabilities who experience high levels of sedentary behavior and low levels of moderate to vigorous activity.MethodsThe impacts of an adaptive cycling pilot program for children with disabilities were investigated through a community-based participatory study. During an eight-week intervention, students had a goal of riding adaptive cycles three times a week for twenty minutes. Using a pre-and post-test design, primary outcomes included individualized goal attainment scaling (GAS) linked to students' individualized education plans (IEP) and the 6-minute cycling test (6MCT) measuring cycling distance. Secondary outcomes included cycling duration over time, assistance levels for pedaling and steering, a “happiness scale”, and overall program satisfaction of parents and teachers. To prevent harm, pain behavior was examined using the Faces, Legs, Activity, Cry, Consolability (FLACC).ResultsCycling had a positive impact on students with disabilities. No increased levels of pain behavior or adverse events were reported. Individual GAS T-score means significantly improved to 0.24 and program effectiveness achieved a T-score value of 50.53. The mean distance of 6MCT increased from 728.95 feet to 880.5 feet. Secondary measures also documented significant improvement. Parents and teachers reported high overall satisfaction.DiscussionAdaptive cycling can incorporate needed physical activity into the school day and also support the achievement of IEP goals, physical activity capacity, and emotional happiness. Scaling adaptive cycling programs for children with disabilities should be considered an excellent opportunity for educational growth, health, and well-being. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-68908d06f4ac4bc8ae5976bcb425917b |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2296-2360 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Pediatrics |
| spelling | doaj-art-68908d06f4ac4bc8ae5976bcb425917b2025-01-15T17:37:17ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Pediatrics2296-23602025-01-011210.3389/fped.2024.14638381463838Pedals possible: a pilot study of adaptive cycling as a school-based rehabilitation intervention for students with disabilitiesJulia S. Brennan0Everette Keller1Elizabeth Humanitzki2Jessica Nichole Wade3Chad Catledge4Stephen Houston5Jonathan Beall6Cynthia B. Dodds7Department of Health Science and Research, College of Health Professions, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, United StatesDepartment of Public Health Sciences, College of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, United StatesDepartment of Health Science and Research, College of Health Professions, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, United StatesLancaster County School District, Lancaster, SC, United StatesLancaster County Breakfast Rotary Club, Lancaster, SC, United StatesHeather’s Ride, Greenville, SC, United StatesDepartment of Public Health Sciences, College of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, United StatesDepartment of Rehabilitation Science, College of Health Professions, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, United StatesIntroductionPediatric therapists in school-based practice can incorporate exercise promotion through adaptive cycling for children with disabilities who experience high levels of sedentary behavior and low levels of moderate to vigorous activity.MethodsThe impacts of an adaptive cycling pilot program for children with disabilities were investigated through a community-based participatory study. During an eight-week intervention, students had a goal of riding adaptive cycles three times a week for twenty minutes. Using a pre-and post-test design, primary outcomes included individualized goal attainment scaling (GAS) linked to students' individualized education plans (IEP) and the 6-minute cycling test (6MCT) measuring cycling distance. Secondary outcomes included cycling duration over time, assistance levels for pedaling and steering, a “happiness scale”, and overall program satisfaction of parents and teachers. To prevent harm, pain behavior was examined using the Faces, Legs, Activity, Cry, Consolability (FLACC).ResultsCycling had a positive impact on students with disabilities. No increased levels of pain behavior or adverse events were reported. Individual GAS T-score means significantly improved to 0.24 and program effectiveness achieved a T-score value of 50.53. The mean distance of 6MCT increased from 728.95 feet to 880.5 feet. Secondary measures also documented significant improvement. Parents and teachers reported high overall satisfaction.DiscussionAdaptive cycling can incorporate needed physical activity into the school day and also support the achievement of IEP goals, physical activity capacity, and emotional happiness. Scaling adaptive cycling programs for children with disabilities should be considered an excellent opportunity for educational growth, health, and well-being.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fped.2024.1463838/fulladaptive cyclingschool-based rehabilitationgoal attainment scalingdevelopmental delayautismphysical activity |
| spellingShingle | Julia S. Brennan Everette Keller Elizabeth Humanitzki Jessica Nichole Wade Chad Catledge Stephen Houston Jonathan Beall Cynthia B. Dodds Pedals possible: a pilot study of adaptive cycling as a school-based rehabilitation intervention for students with disabilities Frontiers in Pediatrics adaptive cycling school-based rehabilitation goal attainment scaling developmental delay autism physical activity |
| title | Pedals possible: a pilot study of adaptive cycling as a school-based rehabilitation intervention for students with disabilities |
| title_full | Pedals possible: a pilot study of adaptive cycling as a school-based rehabilitation intervention for students with disabilities |
| title_fullStr | Pedals possible: a pilot study of adaptive cycling as a school-based rehabilitation intervention for students with disabilities |
| title_full_unstemmed | Pedals possible: a pilot study of adaptive cycling as a school-based rehabilitation intervention for students with disabilities |
| title_short | Pedals possible: a pilot study of adaptive cycling as a school-based rehabilitation intervention for students with disabilities |
| title_sort | pedals possible a pilot study of adaptive cycling as a school based rehabilitation intervention for students with disabilities |
| topic | adaptive cycling school-based rehabilitation goal attainment scaling developmental delay autism physical activity |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fped.2024.1463838/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT juliasbrennan pedalspossibleapilotstudyofadaptivecyclingasaschoolbasedrehabilitationinterventionforstudentswithdisabilities AT everettekeller pedalspossibleapilotstudyofadaptivecyclingasaschoolbasedrehabilitationinterventionforstudentswithdisabilities AT elizabethhumanitzki pedalspossibleapilotstudyofadaptivecyclingasaschoolbasedrehabilitationinterventionforstudentswithdisabilities AT jessicanicholewade pedalspossibleapilotstudyofadaptivecyclingasaschoolbasedrehabilitationinterventionforstudentswithdisabilities AT chadcatledge pedalspossibleapilotstudyofadaptivecyclingasaschoolbasedrehabilitationinterventionforstudentswithdisabilities AT stephenhouston pedalspossibleapilotstudyofadaptivecyclingasaschoolbasedrehabilitationinterventionforstudentswithdisabilities AT jonathanbeall pedalspossibleapilotstudyofadaptivecyclingasaschoolbasedrehabilitationinterventionforstudentswithdisabilities AT cynthiabdodds pedalspossibleapilotstudyofadaptivecyclingasaschoolbasedrehabilitationinterventionforstudentswithdisabilities |