Background One challenge a modern society faces is this: providing those vulnerable and ageing groups of adults who have intellectual disabilities with appropriate support for improving static and dynamic balance. Balance is a crucial component of physical fitness and, consequently, of fall reduction and prevention. The aim of the present randomised controlled trial was to evaluate the efficacy, after 16 weeks, that three different Special Olympics physical activity programmes had on balance and on fall reduction in adults with intellectual disabilities. Method A convenience sample of 150 persons with mild and moderate intellectual disabilities was recruited from the accessible Special Olympics Slovenia population of physically inactive adults with intellectual disabilities. The sample was randomised to the experimental group 1 (multicomponent balance-specific exercise programme group with additional workshops on such social gerontology topics as active and healthy ageing; N = 50), the experimental group 2 (multicomponent wellness programme group; N = 50) and a control group (regular Special Olympics athletic training; N = 50). Results Significant differences were found between groups in the balance scores throughout the study period and in the ability to decrease fall frequency. Conclusions Balance assessment is a high predictor of frequency of falls, and among adults with intellectual disabilities, it significantly correlates with exercise.The results indicate that a multicomponent balance-specific exercise programme with a significant sociogerontological component on active ageing could be a useful intervention for intellectually disabled adults who have poor balance and who experience frequent falls.
Integration as a Tool of Destination Management - The Case of Rural and Rural Fringe AreasIt is well known that the organizational structure of the Slovenian tourism industry is changing. Tourist companies are merging, but unfortunately only a few companies empowered their capital structure and market position, so in a way we can talk about an oligopoly. The situation does not favor rural and rural fringe areas, where an underdeveloped tourism economy cannot represent a solid source of income for many tourist farms and other tourist companies. Integration is a scientifically and professionally proven method for empowering businesses. Integrative destination management, which provides the tool for tourist destinations development, aims at sustainable tourism where the community collectively develops and runs the tourism economy. This paper examines the possibilities for the development of business integration as a basis for the successful implementation of destination management in the Mislinja Valley. A survey has been conducted, where two thirds of the tourist companies in the area were investigated in relation to the destination management and tourism opportunities in the area. Analysis shows that the business environment accepts the idea of integration as a tool for empowering the regional tourism industry, however only interest integration appeares to be acceptable at this time.
English This article deals with the work values of social work students in Croatia and Slovenia, where the correlation of these values with success in advancement in the academic environment is revealed to be significantly different. French Cette étude a exploré les différences en termes des valeurs de travail des étudiants en travail social dans deux pays: la Croatie et la Slovénie. L'étude a exploré la corrélation entre les systèmes de valeurs et le succès des étudiants dans l'environnement scolaire. Il y avait des différences significatives entre les étudiants de ces deux pays. Spanish Primero se estudian las diferencias de valores de trabajo entre los estudiantes de trabajo social de dos paises, Croacia y Eslovenia. Se hace luego la correlación de ese sistema de valores con el éxito personal obtenido en el ambiente académico. Se concluye que hay diferencias significativas entre ambos países.
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