Ashley's Activity #3

Activity #3 : Exercising with Music

Who: Veteran patients could use this to structure their repetition requirements for their exercise plans, increase motivation, and increase success in completing the required repetitions for each exercise.

Need: According to my community partner, there is a need among their veteran patients for ways to help with combatting chronic pain and thoroughly completing exercises prescribed by their physical therapist. I plan to provide a resource handout explaining how exercising to music can help with structuring the repetition requirements prescribed by the physical therapists, increase motivation, as well as how to match their exercise repetitions to music. The goal is for the veteran patients to utilize this resource to help with thoroughly completing the repetition requirements for exercise tasks, in addition to increasing/maintaining motivation to do them.

What: This activity consists of one handout. The handout will have a succinct explanation of how to exercising with music is beneficial, as well as instructions on how to match their exercise repetitions to music. The veteran patients can read through the handout and follow the prompts.

UDL: Representation > Perception > Offer ways of customizing the display of information > Display information in a flexible format; I will be digitally creating the handout and emailing it to my community partner. The handout is created in a visually accessible manner, with font, color, text size, and contrast in mind. From there, the handout can also be edited as needed.

SEL: Self-management > Goal setting; This resource is primary directed towards providing a tool for the veteran patients to provide motivating structure and alternative means to set and achieve their therapeutic goals.

How: Once the handout has been retrieved from the community partner, the veteran patient will read through it before participating in the exercises. The next step is to find a device in which to play music. This could include a cell phone, computer, tablet, or radio with either speakers or headphone options. The veteran patient will pick a preferred song or utilize one playing on the radio that closely meets the guidelines provided on the handout to help cultivate motivation. Once they have chosen a song, they can click play if needed and follow along with the instructions provided in the handout. The goal is for the patient to utilize their chosen song(s) as a means of structure in counting their exercises' repetitions. Once the patient has completed the required exercise's number of repetitions (often 3 sets of 10), the song may or may not be finished. One song can be used for 1-2 exercises (2.5-4 minutes per song; 2-4 minutes per exercise), though that is not a requirement. The veteran patient can change songs for each exercise if they wish, resting in between.

Materials: 

• Exercise Resource Handout (shown below)

• Device to download or print resource (E.g., phone, tablet, computer, or printer)

• Device to open and listen to music (E.g., phone, tablet, computer, or radio)

• Speakers or headphones to listen to music (item may be connected to device)

Handout: