Motivating Physical Activity for Individuals with Intellectual Disability through Indoor Bike Cycling and Exergaming

Antonio Martinez-Millana, Henriette Michalsen, Valter Berg, Audny Anke, Santiago Gil Martinez, Miroslav Muzny, Juan Carlos Torrado Vidal, Javier Gomez, Vicente Traver, Letizia Jaccheri and Gunnar Hartvigsen
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Antonio Martinez-Millana: Instituto Universitario de Aplicaciones de las Tecnologías de la Información y de las Comunicaciones Avanzadas, Universitat Politècnica de València, 46022 Valencia, Spain
Henriette Michalsen: Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Tromsø—The Arctic University of Norway, 9019 Tromsø, Norway
Valter Berg: Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Tromsø—The Arctic University of Norway, 9019 Tromsø, Norway
Audny Anke: Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Tromsø—The Arctic University of Norway, 9019 Tromsø, Norway
Santiago Gil Martinez: Faculty of Health and Sport Sciences, University of Agder, 4879 Grimstad, Norway
Miroslav Muzny: Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Tromsø—The Arctic University of Norway, 9019 Tromsø, Norway
Juan Carlos Torrado Vidal: Department of Computer Science, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7491 Trondheim, Norway
Javier Gomez: Departamento de Ingeniería Informática, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28049 Madrid, Spain
Vicente Traver: Instituto Universitario de Aplicaciones de las Tecnologías de la Información y de las Comunicaciones Avanzadas, Universitat Politècnica de València, 46022 Valencia, Spain
Letizia Jaccheri: Department of Computer Science, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7491 Trondheim, Norway
Gunnar Hartvigsen: Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Tromsø—The Arctic University of Norway, 9019 Tromsø, Norway

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 5, 1-16

Abstract: People with intellectual disabilities have more sedentary lifestyles than the general population. Regular physical activity is of both medical and social importance, reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease and promoting functioning in everyday life. Exergames have been envisioned for promoting physical activity; however, most of them are not user-friendly for individuals with intellectual disabilities. In this paper, we report the design, development, and user acceptance of a mobile health solution connected to sensors to motivate physical activity. The system is mounted on an indoor stationary bicycle and an ergometer bike tailored for people with intellectual disabilities. The development process involved the application of user-centered design principles to customize the system for this group. The system was pilot-tested in an institutional house involving six end-users (intervention group) and demonstrated/self-tested to relatives of persons with ID and staff (supervision group). A System Usability Scale and open-ended interview in the supervision group were used to assess the user acceptance and perceived usefulness. Results indicate that the users with an intellectual disability enjoyed using the system, and that respondents believed it was a useful tool to promote physical activity for the users at the institution. The results of this study provide valuable information on beneficial technological interventions to promote regular physical activity for individuals with intellectual disabilities.

Keywords: intellectual disability; physical activity; mHealth; exergames; gamification (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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