The Effect of a 6-week Non-contact Exercise Program on Body Composition and Physical Fitness in Persons with Physical Disabilities Using Wheelchairs

Han, Ki-Myung; Lee, Su-Yeon; Kim, Ji Young; Han, Ki-Myung; Lee, Su-Yeon; Kim, Ji Young

doi:2022.31.2.271

Exerc Sci > Volume 31(2); 2022 > Article

Original Article

Exercise Science 2022;31(2): 271-278.

6주의 비대면 운동프로그램이 휠체어 이용 지체장애인의 신체구성 및 체력에 미치는 효과

한기명¹

, 이수연²

, 김지영³

¹한국장애인개발원 정책연구본부
²성균관대학교 사회복지학과
³고려대학교 의과대학 생리학교실

The Effect of a 6-week Non-contact Exercise Program on Body Composition and Physical Fitness in Persons with Physical Disabilities Using Wheelchairs

Ki-Myung Han¹

, Su-Yeon Lee²

, Ji Young Kim³

¹Department of Policy Research, Korea Disabled People’s Development Institute, Seoul, Korea
²Department of Social Welfare, Sungkyunkwan University, Seoul, Korea
³Department of Physiology, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea

Correspondence

Ji Young Kim , Tel: +82-2-2286-1281, Email: skyditto01@korea.ac.kr

Received: March 30, 2022; Accepted: May 30, 2022. Published online: May 31, 2022.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE:
This study investigated the effect of a 6-week non-contact exercise program on body composition and physical function of physically disabled persons who used wheelchairs.
METHODS:
Twenty-two physically disabled individuals using wheelchairs (n [females]=15, mean age=49.4±8.9 years) were recruited and divided into an exercise group (n=11) or a control group (n=11). Participants in the exercise group performed a 1-hour-long exercise program twice a week, for 6 weeks, with an exercise instructor through a real-time video conferencing application. Height, weight, body mass index, waist circumference, blood pressure, and muscle strength and range of motion were measured at baseline and after the exercise program.
RESULTS:
Compared with that in the control group, waist circumference in the exercise group significantly decreased after the 6-week exercise program. In addition, range of motion of the shoulder significantly improved in the exercise group, compared with the control group, after 6 weeks.
CONCLUSIONS:
The non-contact exercise program yielded beneficial effects on the waist circumference and range of motion of muscles in disabled individuals using wheelchairs. A follow-up study is needed to verify the long-term effect of the exercise program, which may be achieved by randomizing a large number of people with disabilities.

Key words: Non-contact exercise program, Wheelchairs, Persons with disabilities, Body composition, Physical fitness