Developmental approaches to therapeutic recreation programming: a new research focus.

Therapeutic Recreation is being increasingly recognized as a valuable element of a total rehabilitation approach. In order to be effectively utilized as a treatment tool however, recreation must be approached in a scientific manner which gears activities to individual skills, interests and rehabilitation goals. Many programs in the past have been based primarily on what the therapeutic recreation specialist thought was best, rather than relying on objective analysis of client needs. In actuality this should not be the case. A more scientific approach is evolving as professionals learn more about the physical and psychological ramifications of recreation participation. Analysis of activity demands and outcomes can be used to match participation with client needs and interests to provide a recreation program that is truly rehabilitative as well as enjoyable. This manuscript provides a review of the benefits of Therapeutic Recreation and describes why it is important to utilize scientific and objective criteria in program planning. A number of models are identified that have developed systems approaches to Therapeutic Recreation programming. A recent model, developed at New York University, is described in detail and some projections for the future are made.

Predicting life satisfaction among adults with physical disabilities.

The perceptions of life satisfaction among adults with physical disabilities were examined in this research. Personal interviews were conducted with 790 adults who had a physical disability. Data were collected using the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale, Rosenberg's Self-esteem Scale, and the Life 3 Scale. Results from a stepwise multiple regression analysis (n = 344) indicated that leisure satisfaction was the most significant predictor of life satisfaction, explaining 42% of the variance in the life satisfaction scores for this population. An additional 11% of the variance in life satisfaction was explained by scores on financial status, self-esteem, health satisfaction, religious satisfaction, and marital status. Findings from this research highlight the role that leisure satisfaction plays in enhancing life satisfaction among individuals with physical disabilities. Furthermore, the findings suggest that leisure and life satisfaction levels are influenced by employment status and whether the disability was acquired. Discussion centers on the potential contribution that therapeutic recreation can have in the rehabilitation arena.

Aerobic exercise effect on individuals with physical disabilities.

The effects of aerobic exercise on the fitness level of adults with physical disabilities were examined in this research. Twenty-one individuals participated in a pretest-posttest research design that compared the effects of an aerobic exercise program upon experimental and control subjects, specifically, on body weight, resting, and exercise cardiorespiratory and metabolic parameters, and physical work capacity. Results indicate that aerobic exercise significantly improved physical work capacity by 23.1% and cardiorespiratory fitness as measured by maximal pulmonary ventilation and maximal oxygen consumption by 16.1% and 23.7% respectively, for the experimental group. In contrast, the control group demonstrated declines in these variables of 10.3%, 8%, and 17.1%, respectively. Findings from this research highlight the importance of exercise in promoting fitness and preventing secondary disabilities in adults with physical disabilities.