ADAPTED PHYSICAL ACTIVITY FOR PEOPLE WITH MENTAL AND PHYSICAL DISABILITIES.

General Foundation

The purpose of the course is to connect theory with practice and develop professional skills for the physical, for the optimization of people with mental and physical disabilities through adapted physical education in all areas of application of exercise science in education, adapted exercise & sport and exercise in rehabilitation settings. Special emphasis in this course is given - through experiential activities and projects – in learning how to train and implement individualized and group programs of adapted exercise out and in water (within an aquatic spectrum ranging from adapted-therapeutic swimming to hydrotherapy), to people with mental illnesses (psychosis, mood disorders and anxiety disorders) and motor disabilities (hypertension disabilities and conditions, neuromuscular diseases, injuries and diseases of the spine, amputations, etc.), based on the international ICF classification system of the World Health Organization (WHO). Upon successful completion of the course, the student will be able to: • Evaluate the level of activity and functionality of people with mental and motor disabilities, following a holistic and individualized approach based on the international ICF classification system. • Demonstrate skill related to the assessment and formation of individualized and group programs of adapted exercise -in and out of water- for people with mental and motor disabilities in a range of ages, as well as areas of application of adapted physical activity (education, adapted exercise and sports and rehabilitation settings). • Manage the emotional and motor state of the participant with mental and/or motor disabilities in the context of a "biopsychosocial" approach that leads to understand and explain each disability and its level of functioning. • Design and adapt instruction, exercises and environment in such a way so as to meet the different needs of people with mental and motor disabilities. • Plan and implement short- and long-term exercise goals –in and out of water- and in a variety of application areas, aligned with goals set. • Search, analyze and synthesize data and information, using the necessary technologies. • Effectively apply demonstration and types of feedback, attempting to connect science concepts with appropriate learning experiences. • Justify the way of teaching, make decisions and act critically in order to implement adaptations in the way of teaching, the learning process and/or related goals and decisions. • Implement strategies that help people with disabilities/special educational needs demonstrate behaviors of personal and social functioning. • Communicate in ways that express respect and sensitivity to diversity and multiculturalism, effectively using verbal and non-verbal communication skills in a wide range of activities. • Demonstrate behaviors that are consistent with the professional ethics of highly skilled professionals in every workplace environment. • Gather knowledge, understanding and discernment of the operation of assistive equipment, ergonomic arrangements and other relevant modifications.

1. Basic concepts and delimitation of the concept of mental and motor disabilities within the general framework of the definition of disability and special educational needs. Introduction to mental illness during development and adulthood. Definition of the concepts of mental health and mental disorder, classification and basic categories of mental illnesses based on main symptoms, causes and level of functioning. 2. Treatment of mental illnesses with psychotherapy and/or medication use. Basic approaches of psychological intervention and theory (psychoanalytic, behaviorist, anthropocentric, socio-cognitive and existential). The importance of adapted exercise as a third pole of therapeutic treatment of people with mental illness. 3. Adaptations and combination of basic exercise principles along with the application of psychological techniques for people with psychoses (schizophrenia), mood disorders (depression, bipolar disorder) and anxiety disorders (phobias, obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic attacks, generalized anxiety disorder). Sports psychology and disability. 4. Therapeutic swimming – hydrotherapy I. Basic definitions, required knowledge and conditions for teaching therapeutic swimming to people with motor and other disabilities. Basic methods of therapeutic swimming and hydrotherapy (Halliwick, WST, BRRM, Ai Chi & Clinical Ai Chi, Watsu) that can be applied in motor and other disabilities. 5. Therapeutic swimming – hydrotherapy II. Basic water assessment tests for people with disabilities. The World Health Organization (WHO) ICF five-point classification system. Management of the emotional and motor state of the participant with disabilities within the framework of a "biopsychosocial" approach to understand and explain each disability and the level of functionality. 6. 6. Therapeutic swimming – hydrotherapy III. Towards a collaborative aquatic approach to therapeutic swimming methods, in an aquatic spectrum from adapted-therapeutic swimming to hydrotherapy. Water exercise adaptations for people with motor and other disabilities. Contraindications for participation in adapted swimming and adaptations of the pool environment and water temperature for people with motor and other disabilities. 7. Cerebral Palsy. Etiology and accompanying disorders. Classifications of cerebral palsy and existing treatment approaches. Fundamentals of special physical education and adaptations of in- and out-of-water exercise for eparticipants with cerebral palsy. 8. Brain injury and stroke. Etiology and accompanying disorders. Classification and existing therapeutic treatments. Exercise adaptations to improve the individual parameters that constitute the overall fitness level of people with brain injury or stroke. 9. Neuromuscular diseases as a large heterogeneous group of diseases of the nervous and muscular system. Causes, characteristics and main effects. Adaptations of exercise for people with multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, infectious polyneuritis, myasthenia gravis, Friedreich's ataxia, etc. 10. Injuries and diseases of the spine. Spinal deviations, spondylolysis - spondylolisthesis, spinal cord injuries, spina bifida and post-poliomyeloid syndrome. Key exercise adaptations for people with spinal injuries and relevant conditions. 11. Amputations and ‘other’ disabilities (arthritis, arthrogryposis and osteogenesis imperfecta). Causes, categories and the effect of amputations on the physical and emotional state of the individual. Major adaptations of exercise for people with amputations and other disabilities. 12. Dementia and Parkinson's disease, as disabilities concerning the elderly people in exercise and rehabilitation environments (e.g. dementia caused after a vascular or ischemic stroke). Basic adaptations of exercise for dementia and Parkinson's disease. 13. Experiential activities and examples in the form of work plans (projects) given during the semester live or asynchronously. All related to the evaluation and preparation of individual and group programs of adapted exercise in and out of water for people with mental and motor disabilities, combining the acquired knowledge of all lectures. 14. Examinations.

Mental and motor disabilities, physical exercise, therapeutic swimming, cerebral palsy, brain injury and stroke, neuromuscular diseases, spine, amputees

11-09-2023