Exercise for Special Populations

Visual Impairment Lab (10 pts)

Anthony Panko & Jamison Mays

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.

_____________________________________________________________________________________
Questions:

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

Being blind was not as bad as I was expecting. It did have many disadvantages. Even though I knew the
general layout of the room, I was still a bit hesitant to walk around on my own. There are so many small
tripping hazards that are present. It increased my anxiety. My leader guided my arm and gave verbal cues
that helped decrease my anxiety of being blind. Having a physical support system and someone
describing my surroundings helped with navigation. I would say the hardest part was navigating down
stairs but going up the stairs was much easier.

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

I would have concerns with just plain navigating through tight spaces, especially a gym. If people leave
weights and gym bags around, these are all potential tripping hazards that could lead to client anxiety or
injury. Even small lifts on the floor caused some trouble. In Boyle there is an area where it goes from
carpets to normal flooring. The carpet is lifted just a little higher than the flooring. Without sight, that
small lift was bothersome and caused me to trip a little bit. Reservations would be to remember to clear
the area from tripping hazards. Also trying to make sure the gym is as empty as possible with blind
clients.
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?

As an Exercise Professional, verbal and tactile cues are the best way to lead a blind client. As someone
who is not great at verbally describing actions, it was important for me to describe actions as clearly as I
could. Improving verbal communication is something that would help someone with visual impairments.
Tactile cues are a great ability to help a blind client. A simple touch to help guide movement is a huge
help.

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 hard to get the client to complete the different exercises. Typically with a client with no
impairments, you are able to physically show and demonstrate the exercises. With visually impaired
clients, that is out of the picture. You need to be able to explain in great detail what needs to be done.
After you explain, you want to have the client do the exercise to be able to correct anything they didn’t
understand. As well, they might need tactile help trying to stay on a treadmill for example, and other
exercises.

5. List 2 considerations & modifications for the visually impaired client & 2 for the hearing impaired.
Visually Impaired
1. Open spaces with no tripping hazards. This allows them to complete exercises without worrying
about falling or potential injuries.
2. Tactile assistance to help their awareness of space. Can include handrails, safety guards, and even
your own hands to help them know where they are.
3. Auditory cues which makes it important to have clear communication and descriptions of
exercises.

Hearing Impaired
1. Videos with closed captions explaining exercises or testing sequences.
2. Visual cues will help these clients. Written workouts or pictures of the specific exercises. Physical
expressions like facial expressions and body language. Don’t cover your mouth as some can read
lips well. This is a main way of their interpretation and communication with others.