Step it UP! Game increases steps of adults with disabilities

Area of Science:

• Health Promotion
• Disability Studies
• Behavioral Interventions

Background:

• Regular physical activity reduces risks of chronic diseases like diabetes, heart disease, and hypertension.
• Individuals with neurodevelopmental and intellectual disabilities often exhibit lower physical activity levels compared to neurotypical individuals.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of the Step it UP! Game on physical activity levels in adults with disabilities.
• To assess changes in the mean number of steps taken per minute during the intervention.

Main Methods:

• A multielement design was used to compare the Step it UP! Game intervention with baseline conditions.
• Participants were divided into two competing teams, with rewards for the highest step count.
• Mean steps per minute were recorded for all participants.

Main Results:

• Mean step count per minute increased from 24.35 during baseline to 54.76 during the Step it UP! Game intervention.
• All 10 participants demonstrated an increase in their step count while participating in the game.

Conclusions:

• The Step it UP! Game is an effective intervention for increasing physical activity in adults with disabilities.
• Gamification and team-based competition can successfully motivate individuals with disabilities to engage in more physical activity.