Jayden Emberton-Gaines

Exercise for Special Populations

Visual Impairment Lab (10 pts)

Part 1:
● Break into pairs and blindfold 1 partner. The visually impaired client should pretend that
they are not familiar with the facility or the exercises.

● Lead your blind client throughout Boyle

1. Please include walking up stairs
2. Navigating through hallway
3. Perform the following:
▪ Start your client exercising on the bike, treadmill or stepper
▪ Perform the sit & reach test
▪ Instruct & complete some abdominal crunches
▪ Instruct & complete upper body dumbbell exercise

● Put earplugs on the other partner and repeat step 3.

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Questions:

1. How did it feel to be blind? What specifically did your leader do or not do that
decreased/increased your anxiety?

It was difficult to tell where you are and how to perceive what you needed to do. Verbal cues and
assistance with hand placement was very helpful with completing activities.

Increased anxiety: not being to hear my leader’s voice, to many sounds, sudden changes

Decreased: asking permission to physically guide me through movement

2. As a blind client, what concerns/reservations might you have with regards to exercise?

Having to depend on my instructor to give detailed instructions was a challenge

I think that the possibility of clutter or disorientation while exercising would also be a concern
for me as a client.

3. As the seeing Exercise Professional, what techniques did you use to lead your blind client?
What worked best……what didn’t work? How could you improve your leading abilities?

I helped him around by leading him with my voice. I also described the surroundings to him to
help him know when we were walking through doors or going up or down a slope. Having him
follow my voice worked best as well as having him use railings or the wall to guide himself. Just
guiding himself through the hallways, he was a little timid and confused on where he was. I
could improve by maybe guiding him with my hands when he cannot feel the wall.
4. As the seeing Exercise Professional, how hard was it to get the client to complete the different
exercises? How did you have to modify your “normal” instruction? What potential
problems/barriers could occur with working with a visually impaired client?

It was not all that difficult to guide my client through exercises. I was able to modify my
instruction by talking him through the exercises rather than showing with examples. Some
problems that can occur could be confusion on what exercise to do due to unclear verbal
instructions as well as confusion on where exactly to do what due to inability to see.

5. List 2 considerations & modifications for the visually impaired client & 2 for the hearing
impaired.

For the visually impaired client, give very descriptive details on what they are supposed to do,
also make sure they are stable/secure and know their surroundings.

For the hearing impaired client, show videos for examples on how to complete the exercises the
correct way, as well as make eye contact with your client ensuring them you are speaking to or
directing them.