The characteristics of physical exercise programs in rehabilitation: a means of analysis.

The relatively few number of articles available concerning the utility of physical exercise or physical sports activities within rehabilitation, according to a recent literature search, may reflect a general scarcity of such articles and/or programs. According to the 115 references located however, exercise appears potentially useful as a rehabilitation tool, in spite of various programmatic and methodological complications. It is apparent that all forms of exercise training are not suitable for all rehabilitation clients. However, based on the rehabilitation-related characteristics of the 15 different activities represented herein, there are certain forms of physical exercise which (1) are more congruent with normalization principles, (2) are more easily adapted to all disabilities, including the elderly, and (3) employ brief, high-intensity training principles, and therefore seem to be well suited for rehabilitation programming, in general. The anecdotal and empirical reports represented in this literature analysis should provide a base for continued investigation of the rehabilitative impact and relative efficiency of physical fitness/sports activities upon impaired individuals.