Inclusive adapted aquatic exercise class with undergraduate exercise personal assistants

Design · All designs
Evidence · 2 claims (1 for, 1 mixed) · 1 study (1 causal), q2 · 0 of 1 report an effect size · 2 claims rest on one study

Description

A socially-inclusive, university-offered adapted aquatic exercise (AE) class designed from SWD focus-group input. Each participant was paired with two to three kinesiology undergraduate exercise personal assistants who received "two weeks of intensive education and training on AE, care, transfers, etc." and earned three experiential academic credits. "Classes were held twice each week on campus, during the regular spring semester, and lasted 50 minutes," with individualized exercise programs created from initial physical assessments.

Design Implications

Context

Requirements

• Exercise personal assistants provided by the class, trained in aquatic exercise, transfers, and care
• Initial physical assessments to create individualized exercise programs
• Instructor supervision allowing assistants to adjust programs to participant needs

Constraints

• Results may not apply to more diverse campuses, as the intervention took place at a university recognized for its disability services

Target Learners

• university students with physical disabilities

Learning Goals

• exercise self-efficacy
• quality of life
• social inclusion
• recreational physical activity participation

Claims

• Ae Class Perceived Positive Outcomes [+M]
• Ae Class Null Survey Outcomes Except Activity [~M]

Related Designs

Examples

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Key Sources

• Dysterheft, J., Chaparro, G., Rice, L., & Rice, I. (2016). Investigating the Outcomes and Perceptions of an Inclusive Aquatic Exercise Class for University Students with Physical Disabilities. Journal of Postsecondary Education and Disability, 31(1), 41-56. https://eric.ed.gov/?q=Investigating+the+Outcomes+and+Perceptions+of+an+Inclusive+Aquatic+Exercise+Class

Page metadata

Field	Value
type	design
id	inclusive-adapted-aquatic-exercise-class
title	Inclusive adapted aquatic exercise class with undergraduate exercise personal assistants
description	A socially-inclusive, university-offered adapted aquatic exercise (AE) class designed from SWD focus-group input.
status	review
generated	by process:settle-candidates on 2026-11-02
trust	unverified — no one has confirmed this page's content
sources	1 — dysterheft-2016

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