Article Critique #1

Article Critique #1

Abigail Evans

Brigham Young University 

 Article Critique #1

            This article, “Demonstrating How Collaborative Practices Contribute to Meaningful Physical Activity”, is a summary on the outcomes of programs designed to enhance physical fitness for patients with a disability. “Documented out- comes of physical activity have included decreased pain, anxiety, and stress; reduced incidence of falls and symptoms of depression; and promotion of healthy lifestyles.” Through providing designed and collaborated programs patients are more likely to perform physical activity and improve many aspects of their life. Most of all the patients who were polled in this study showed a significant increase in healthy emotional state and BMI. As a Recreation Therapist, helping patients perform physical activity will result in great enhancements to their lives.

Strengths and Weaknesses of the Article 

            This article was very well written and stated a clear point- organized (therapized) physical activity can lead to very good things for the patient. Although, I’m not sure it could have been, I wish it were written more creatively; it was kind of dry. The point that psychical fitness is helpful seemed to be repeated over and over again, just in different ways. It was an informational article but didn’t state anything really new or groundbreaking.

How Article can be Applied

            The take home message of this article is that using physical activity as a form of therapy is highly effective. As therapists (and future therapists, such as myself) we can make sure to promote and perform psychical activity very often with our patients. We can perform the activities in a group environment to help enhance teamwork and social skills. Also if we have a patient who is struggling with low self-esteem we can remember that by teaching them a new sport, or getting them to be more psychically active, it will most likely help them gain more confidence. The article could be made more useful had they included specific examples of ways therapists have successfully used psychical activity in a therapy session.

Personal Reaction

I have always been a highly active person and regarded being physically active as a necessary component to my personal happiness. As soon as I read the words “meaningful physical activity” in the title, I thought it would be an article I could relate to. It was no surprise to read that “…adults with Developmental Disabilities and their caregivers benefit from engaging in physical fitness interventions.” Whenever I am feeling depressed or down I will force myself to go exercise, even if I don’t want to. No matter how bad I was feeling before, I always come back feeling happier and more at peace. By knowing this trick for myself I will be able to better preach it to my future patients. I liked that this article supported what I had already found for myself to be true.

Conclusion

            Practicing the habit of being physically fit will help us to be better recreational therapists and teach these practices to our patients. Physical activity is a holistic solution to many of the problems that patients experience. The benefits for the patients can be: increased self-esteem, healthier BMI, new skills learned, and a happier emotional state. These benefits will be a great success to the therapist and patient and will be sure to result often- as recreation is, in fact, psychical activity. Therefore as a RECREATIONAL therapist, physical activity should be used and practiced often. Success, as far as improving patients’ lives, will be inevitable. 

Reference

Zoerink, D., & Groff, D. (2012). Demonstrating how collaborative practices contribute to meaningful physical activity. Introduction to Special Issue Part II: Collaborative Practices and Physical Activity, XLVI(4), 243-244. Retrieved from http://js.sagamorepub.com.erl.lib.byu.edu/trj/article/view/2909/2640