The Growing Need for Special Needs Fitness Programs

Everyone benefits from consistent physical activity, and this is especially true for differently-abled individuals. Burning off excess energy, enhancing motor skills, and improving physical fitness are excellent reasons to start a new exercise regime, but people that are differently-abled may struggle to find special needs fitness programs that can accommodate their abilities. 

Plenty of independent studies support the assertion that movement-based therapy positively impacts the physical body, along with communication skills, behavioral problems, and even academic performance for children with special needs. 

Moreover, parents will reap the benefits when they can connect with other families that relate to their life experiences. And the best part is adaptive fitness specialists can guide your child throughout their fitness journey while making all the necessary accommodations. 
Today, we’ll discuss what it means to have special needs and why special needs fitness programs should be integral to all communities. Let’s get started!

Understanding Special Needs

The term “special needs” has many different meanings – it can refer to a condition that causes issues in a single aspect of a person’s life or a condition that completely transforms their way of life. However, “special needs” is often used to describe a person’s physical or emotional difficulties that require additional assistance.

There are four primary categories of special needs:

• Sensory-impaired. A person who is sensory-impaired will be visually impaired or have limited hearing.
• Developmental. Down syndrome, dyslexia, dyscalculia, autism, and other inherited disorders fall into the developmental category of special needs.
• Behavioral. Mental illnesses such as obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, and other disorders are the behavioral form of special needs.
• Physical. Disorders including multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, epilepsy, leukemia, and other health issues that affect the body are considered physical disabilities.

Some people are born with special needs, but others develop special needs later in life. It’s important to understand that people with special needs are just like able-bodied individuals, even if they have different needs.

What are Special Needs Fitness Programs? 
Everyone has qualities that make them unique, and people with developmental disabilities need to stay active just like their able-bodied counterparts. Special needs fitness programs are designed for people with special needs.

Even though people with special needs are just like everyone else, they may find it difficult to engage in school-sponsored sports activities. As a solution, special needs fitness programs provide a fun, healthy environment where differently-abled people can make friends, build confidence, and get in shape!

The Benefits of Special Needs Fitness Programs
Of course, you’ll need approval from a primary care physician before starting a new exercise regime. Once your doctor gives you the green light, you’re ready to get in shape with the assistance of adaptive fitness specialists.

They Help Children Get Their Daily Physical Activity
The CDC recommends that children have an hour of physical activity every day to maintain their physical and mental health. And of course, these guidelines apply to differently-abled children as well, but most differently-abled children don’t get the physical activity they need.
Special needs fitness programs provide a safe space for differently-abled children to improve their self-esteem, maintain a healthy weight, and reduce the stress of daily life. While most children can get their hour of physical activity throughout the day, children with disabilities may need a little extra help reaching this goal, but special needs fitness programs bridge the gap.

Exercise Has Additional Benefits for Children with Disabilities
Exercise is beneficial for everyone, but children with disabilities and other chronic conditions experience more benefits than other children. Exercise for children with disabilities enhances their physical function and reduces deconditioning, which instills them with greater independence.

Special needs fitness programs offer a level of inclusion that differently-abled children may not experience in other areas of their lives. In many cases, children with disabilities don’t partake in group fitness activities at school, so special needs fitness programs are an excellent way for differently abled children to experience the inclusion in group activities essential for emotional development.

Adaptive Fitness Professionals Can Provide Personalized Training
Studies show that about 40% of children and teens in the United States are differently abled or have a chronic health condition. However, physical activities are seldom tailored to meet the needs of differently-abled individuals. Since differently-abled people often don’t have access to the right fitness programs, it can be difficult for them to maintain their physical and mental health.

Special needs fitness programs allow differently-abled people to participate in specialized training with the help of adaptive fitness professionals. These trainers understand the unique needs of differently-abled individuals and teach them how fun it can be to get in shape with friends! 

Parents and Children Find Support and a Community
Differently-abled children are more likely to experience isolation and feel misunderstood. However, special needs fitness programs bring differently-abled children together with peers with similar issues. Furthermore, adaptive fitness specialists know how to manage meltdowns in a way that makes the child feel understood. 

The parents of children with special needs face unique challenges that other parents may not understand. When these parents have support from a like-minded community, they can have the emotional support necessary for special needs fitness programs and also help families learn more about how to care for their differently-abled child.

Get in Shape with Let’s Go Fitness
If you’re looking for a special needs fitness program, and you’re not sure where to start, our team at Let’s Go Fitness is here to help! We provide special needs fitness programs for differently-abled individuals.

At Let's Go Fitness, we strive to create a welcoming environment where anyone can make friends, get in shape, and have fun doing it! Our adaptive fitness specialists guide participants every step of the way. Whether our athletes need accommodations, modifications, or simply an understanding listener, we'll help everyone reach their goals.

Are you ready to start a fitness journey for yourself or a loved one? Contact Let's Go Fitness today to learn more about our membership packages!

​