Case Studies
Case studies focus on testimonies about young people with a disability who has benefited from GYM-SPARC.
Meet Nicole
Nicole loves to wear active wear at the gym.
Nicole is a young adult with cerebral palsy who lives in rural Victoria. Nicole lives with her family, is completing further education and is a NDIS participant. Nicole’s disability means that she finds it difficult to stand and walk, and her balance isn’t very good. She uses a walking frame to get about and a wheelchair in the community.
Social support strategies used by Nicole:
The challenges of attending a gym
Before the pandemic, Nicole attended a community rehab program at the local hospital. This program closed during the pandemic and did not re-open. Nicole sees a local physiotherapist once a month who has given her a home exercise program that she loads onto her iPad.
The physio makes sure Nicole exercises with the correct technique. Nicole loves to exercise and during the pandemic she took up online Zumba classes but it is not the same exercising at home on her own. She likes to be among people. It is important that Nicole exercises regularly to maintain her strength and physical function. However, she needs help from someone when she exercises.
Social support strategies used by Nicole:
Starting out at the gym
Nicole’s mum found a small gym in their local town and arranged a trial session. It is run by a personal trainer who is very encouraging and welcoming of people of all abilities. The personal trainer is also open to communication and collaboration with Nicole’s local physiotherapist.
The personal trainer used the physio home exercise program to work out Nicole’s gym exercise program. They made up a program of exercises using the gym equipment to give Nicole some variety and taught Nicole to use the gym equipment safely.
Nicole attends one session per week with her trained disability support worker and one session per week with the personal trainer. The support worker and personal trainer provide Nicole with physical assistance and supervise the exercises. Sometimes they take turns exercising. Nicole considers the support worker and the personal trainer her “exercise buddies”.
Social support strategies used by Nicole:
The benefits
Attending the gym with the social supports has had a positive impact on Nicole’s life.
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For Nicole it is important that exercise is fun, engaging and includes social interaction. The personal trainer runs group fitness circuit classes which local women from their town attend. Nicole has arranged to have her personal training session at the same time as the group circuit class. She loves the social interaction and encouragement she gets from exercising with other women. She also loves bumping into them down the street when she goes out for coffee.
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Nicole gets lots of encouragement from the personal trainer, support worker and other women in the group circuit class. The personal trainer also lets Nicole play her own music during her workouts and they have a lot of fun together. Nicole feels exercising among others keeps her accountable and motivated. She has a smart watch and endeavours to “complete the rings” every day.
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Nicole’s physiotherapist checks in with Nicole every month. She checks her exercise program and provides the personal trainer with advice via the program on Nicole’s iPad and through the support worker who attends the physio appointment with Nicole.
Nicole’s mum feels reassured and grateful that Nicole is developing confidence in herself to exercise in her local community gym.
NDIS - National Disability Insurance Scheme
Logistical support: Nicole uses her NDIS funding under capacity building to provide the support worker, physiotherapist and 1 : 1 personal trainer session. Nicole pays for her gym membership from her pension. Nicole’s mum self-manages Nicole’s NDIS package.
Supervision: Nicole’s disability support worker has experience working with people with disability.
Nicole talking about how the PT is engaging and motivating
“She’s fun because, at the gym, she lets me play my music through speakers”
Nicole talking about exercising with the support worker
“It’s more fun [to exercise together]”
Nicole’s mum talking about the positive effects - confidence and physical
“When she’s been going to the gym she’s been using the treadmill regularly, and she’s more confident using it and the equipment. And she gets a bit puffed out, which is great.”
Nicole’s mum talking about the need for supervision in the gym and the benefits of the education that the PT has provided
“I’d never let her use a treadmill on her own without someone close by for supervision [because she might fall off]. You know with the leg press, how it slides back and forth? The personal trainer has taught her about that. Nicole was telling me, ‘make sure it’s locked in because the seat can slide forward, and you can hurt yourself.’ So, just all those gym safety things.”
Nicole’s mum talking about the positive effects of exercising in the gym
“[Nicole has a] good team… I’ve noticed Nicole’s attitude about exercise and gym has changed because they are making it fun, and she really wants to go, and enjoys it.”