The Effect of Systematic Prompting on the Acquisition of Two Muscle-Strengthening Exercises by Adults with Moderate Disabilities

Abstract

Musculoskeletal fitness is important for adults with intellectual disabilities (ID) to maintain cardiovascular fitness, functional independence, and work task performance, and to reduce the risk of chronic diseases and other disabilities. However, adults with ID typically have significantly lower musculoskeletal fitness compared with their peers without a disability. Appropriate instructional strategies are needed to facilitate their acquisition and maintenance of musculoskeletal fitness. In this study, three adults with moderate ID, aged 19-20 years, were selected to evaluate the effects of a multi-component treatment package that included a video-enhanced system of least-to-most prompts (LMP) on their acquisition of two muscle-strengthening machine exercises. Results from a multiple-baseline-across-participants single-subject design show substantive gains in correct and independent performance of steps in the two exercises during the treatment condition. The improved performance in both exercises was maintained one week and two weeks after the last treatment session and appeared to have extended to a large fitness room. The study suggests that use of the video-enhanced system of LMP as an additional or alternate type of instruction can lead to improved acquisition and maintenance of muscle-strengthening exercises by young adults with moderate ID.

Keywords: Exercise performance; intellectual disability; single-subject design; task prompting; video-based instruction.

Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest: Dr. Iva Obrusnikova declares that she has no conflict of interest. Dr. Cavalier declares that he has no conflict of interest. Ms. Novak declares that she has no conflict of interest. Ms. Blair declares that she has no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1.

Percent of Chest Press exercise steps correctly and independently performed by Juan, Paula, and Alyssa during the baseline and treatment phases and the maintenance and extension probes. Percent level of prompting by the instructor necessary for Juan, Paula, and Alyssa to perform the Chest Press exercise steps correctly in the treatment phase.

Figure 2.

Percent of Leg Press exercise steps correctly and independently performed by Juan, Paula, and Alyssa during the baseline and treatment phases and the maintenance and extension probes. Percent level of prompting by the instructor necessary for Juan, Paula, and Alyssa to perform the Leg Press exercise steps correctly in the treatment phase.