Tailored programs for people with disabilities that consider a multitude of factors at one time and achieve a greater adherence rate and health outcome must be the next frontier of exercise science. There is a clear and present need for tailoring physical activity programs for people with disabilities that address all factors and conditions in one composite. Consider the following statement from a person describing her condition in a chatroom for persons with lupus: "I've spent the last several years deteriorating to the point of no longer being able to work - chronic fatigue, chronic infections, a tonsillectomy, a cervical cyst removed, cold especially when sleeping, shooting pains in my extremities, pain in neck, back, joints, hands. I am only 33 and I don't have any children and haven't worked in over a year and a half." Developing an effective exercise program for this person would require more than just knowledge of her disability. Lupus can vary quite dramatically from person to person and when you consider that we haven't even started a discussion on where the person would like to exercise (i.e., home, outdoors, or fitness center), what their psychological profile might be (i.e., motivated/not motivated, socially isolated, possible depression), and what types of activities they would like to engage in, it is clear that exercise guidelines must become more specific to the individual subscriber.

Read the entire column at http://www.ncpad.org/209/1388/2004-05~Issue~~Prescribing~Physical~Activity~for~People~with~
Disabilities~Requires~More~than~General~Guidelines.