Functional Strengthening and Fitness Interventions for Children with Developmental Disabilities

Maria Fragala-Pinkham, Maggie O'Neil
October 11, 2019 - October 12, 2019New Brunswick, NJ

Designing effective intervention programs to improve strength, endurance, and function in school-aged children 5-21 years with disabilities can be enormously challenging. Participants will observe and practice measurement and intervention techniques during demonstration sessions and case studies while learning intervention design including frequency, intensity, duration, and types of interventions to improve strength and function. Specific intervention activities will be discussed such as strategies to enhance strength, flexibility, endurance, and function as well as progressive resistive exercises using weights and resistance bands, therapeutic exercise using moveable surfaces, treadmill training, aquatic exercise, structured play, and yoga.