Background: Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder marked by motor and nonmotor impairments that increase fall risk and reduce quality of life (QoL). While physical therapy (PT) targets functional restoration, recreational therapy (RT) emphasizes sustained engagement in meaningful, community-based activities. Integrated interventions may optimize both motor outcomes and psychosocial well-being. Purpose: This case report examined the impact of a structured RT program, supplemented with advanced boxing training, on motor function, balance, emotional well-being, and activity levels in a community-dwelling individual with PD. Case presentation: The participant, a 60-year-old male diagnosed with early-stage PD, engaged in a weekly group RT program within the Stillwater CANe Project, complemented by an advanced boxing program twice weekly. Assessments included the Timed Up and Go (TUG), Modified Falls Efficacy Scale (MFES), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), BioDex BioSway, Medication Effectiveness Scale, and Physical Activity Questionnaire (PAQ). Measures were administered monthly over 2 years. Results: Consistent program engagement was associated with improvements in mobility (TUG time decreased from 5.8 to 4.7 seconds), enhanced balance (BioSway stability scores improved across all conditions), high fall-related self-efficacy (MFES consistently >85 percent), and stable emotional well-being (HADS scores below clinical thresholds). Perceived medication effectiveness remained high, while self-reported symptom severity declined. PAQ results demonstrated increased weekly activity levels, doubling from 390 to 780 minutes. Conclusion: This case highlights the effectiveness of RT in complementing pharmacological and PT interventions for PD. Consistent participation in structured, community-based exercise programs with social support contributed to meaningful improvements in motor function, psychological well-being, and lifestyle activity. These findings underscore the value of RT as an accessible, patient-centered approach to enhance QoL in PD populations.
The integration of socially assistive robots (SARs) into recreational therapy practices offers a promising avenue to enhance therapeutic outcomes for individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). SARs have the potential to foster engagement, promote leisure behaviors, and support social skill development. However, despite their benefits, widespread implementation has been hindered by barriers such as limited training, low self-efficacy, attitudinal resistance, and ethical concerns. This study explores the attitudes, acceptance, and intentions of United States-based recreational therapists toward adopting SARs in their work with individuals with ASD. Using a nonexperimental, quantitative cross-sectional survey design, participants completed the Almere model of Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology questionnaire, a validated 32-item tool measuring domains of technology acceptance. Hierarchical regression analyses revealed key predictors of acceptance included Perceived Ease of Use, Perceived Adaptiveness, and Perceived Sociability. This study contributes to informing strategies for designing user-friendly, engaging robotic tools while underscoring the need for targeted training and resource allocation in therapeutic settings.
The aging of the American population has created a sense of urgency among long-term care providers as they begin to realize the scale of substance use and misuse among older adults. Indeed, between 2006 and 2020, rates of diagnosed substance use disorder (SUD) among older adults were projected to more than double from 2.8 million to 5.8 million. Using a nationally distributed survey of CTRS(s)®, this study found support for existing research on the lack of effective screening and training related to SUDs among older adults. Furthermore, results suggest that among CTRSs serving this population, there is a lack of awareness of substance use policies at individual agencies as well as a more general lack of SUD-specific training in higher education.
Although recreational therapy (RT) is considered to be a valuable service for individuals with acquired brain injury (ABI), longitudinal studies are needed to validate its functional utility. Objective: To identify longitudinal relationships among the number of RT services, neuropsychological impairments, community integration, and quality of life for individuals with significant ABI. Methods: The sample included 71 individuals with moderate/severe ABI in an inpatient rehabilitation program who received RT services and completed predictor and outcome measures during inpatient rehabilitation (n = 71) and at 6 months post-discharge (n = 33). Measures included the number of RT services offered and indices of ABI-related neuropsychological impairments, community integration, and environmental quality of life. Results: Pearson correlations and multiple regressions indicated that (1) more RT services are offered to people with less successful community integration (as expected); and (2) more RT services and better community integration (but not neuropsychological impairments) are associated with better environmental quality of life. Conclusion: RT services promote long-term community integration and quality of life in individuals with ABI.
This paper explores the impact that recreational therapy interventions had on the social-emotional growth of middle schoolers during a 5-week summer school program. Five subscales—Interpersonal Strength, Family Involvement, Intrapersonal Strength, School Functioning, and Affective Strength—were analyzed through pre- and post-tests assessments. While overall changes were not statistically significant, the Interpersonal Strength subscale showed a notable increase in mean scores, with two items demonstrating significant improvement (p < .05), suggesting gains in emotional regulation and accountability. Other subscales remained stable or showed mixed results. The findings highlight the potential of targeted interventions to support specific aspects of social-emotional growth and underscore the need for further research with larger sample sizes and more extensive program components.
