Rimmer, J.H. January/February 2006. Guest Comment: Strong headwind on the road to accessible fitness and recreation. The Journal on Active Aging.

Dr. Rimmer contributed to a recent issue of The Journal on Active Aging about why it is so important that fitness centers be accessible for persons with disabilities. “Owners and managers of fitness and recreation facilities must do more to make their facilities accessible to people with disabilities. If that means removing a few steps, installing a ramp, purchasing a few extra pieces of accessible equipment, or sending staff to a training seminar to learn more about disability and secondary conditions, so be it.”

Body fat, fitness and level of everyday physical activity in adolescents and young adults with meningomyelocele

Van den Berg-Emons, H. J., Bussmann, J., Meyerink, H., Roebroeck, M., & Stam, H. (2003). Body fat, fitness and level of everyday physical activity in adolescents and young adults with meningomyelocele.J Rehab Med, 35, 271-275.

The purpose of this study was to assess the fitness and body fat in adolescents and young adults with meningomyelocele (MMC), and to determine if the level of everyday physical activity was related to body fat and fitness in the participant group. It was found that both ambulatory and the non-ambulatory young adults with MMC are at risk for developing obesity and have poor fitness levels. Such individuals can benefit from exercise and nutritional programming.

Read the entire abstract at http://www.ncpad.org/356/2046/Body~Fat~~Fitness~and~Level~of~ Everyday~Physical~Activity~in~Adolescents~and~Young ~Adults~with~Meningomyelocele.