Increasing therapeutic exercise participation by individuals with acquired brain injury using self‐recording and reinforcement

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of self-recording and contingent reinforcement on exercise participation by four adults with acquired brain injury. The results indicate that self-recording and contingent reinforcement increased participation in stretching, aerobic, and weight-lifting activities for each participant. The results also indicate that each participant was able to accurately self-record his or her exercise participation. Possible operant conceptualizations for the observed behavior change, as well as limitations to the results, are briefly discussed.

Preliminary efficacy of prize‐based contingency management to increase activity levels in healthy adults

“…Y. Hall, 1992), obese adults (Byrne, Barry, & Petry, 2012;Petry, Barry, Pescatello, & White, 2011), individuals with muscle or arthritic pain (Geiger, Todd, Clark, Miller, & Kori, 1992;Todd, 1988) or brain injury (Maki, Rudrud, Schulze, & Rapp, 2008), and developmentally disabled individuals (Allen & Iwata, 1980;Croce & Horvat, 1992;Hutzler & Korsensky, 2010;Lancioni, Campodonico, & Mantini, 1999;Mathieson, 1991;Rogers-Wallgren, French, & Ben-Ezra, 1992;Vashdi, Hutzler, & Roth, 2008;Wysocki, Hall, Iwata, & Riordan, 1979). Reinforcers for these interventions have included money (Cohen et al, 2002(Cohen et al, , 2007Galbo, 2011;Petry et al, 2011), privileges (Courneya, Estabrooks, & Nigg, 1997;Lancioni et al, 1999;Vashdi et al, 2008), tokens or points (de Luca & Holborn, 1985, 1990, 1992D.…”

A special messaging technology for two persons with acquired brain injury and multiple disabilities

“…The same disabilities would also prevent the use of telephone systems [10,14,28]. Given the difficulties in finding functional technologies for these persons, the tendency may be to provide them care and protection without pursuing opportunities of communication and interaction between them and their distant partners [2,[9][10][11][12]29].…”

“…with distant partners) and (b) the potential therapeutic value of such a communication [7,8,10,11,26]. While the importance of ensuring this type of communication is obvious, the use of electronic mail may be viewed as an inadequate approach when dealing with persons who have multiple disabilities, including extensive/profound motor and visual disabilities.…”

“…Many of these persons, particularly those presenting with multiple disabilities, might require some level of life-long care and support and might also need specially equipped homes or neurorehabilitation facilities [7][8][9][10][11][12].…”

“…In line with the notion that assistive technology may be critical to improve the situation of these persons, a variety of research initiatives have recently been reported [10][11][12][13][14]. For example, a number of studies have focused on the development and assessment of memory aids to help persons with memory problems gain a more efficient participation in daily events [15][16][17][18].…”