Step it <scp>UP</scp>! Game increases steps of adults with disabilities
A 30-minute team step contest with a dollar-store prize doubled walking in adults with disabilities.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Ten adults with developmental or intellectual disabilities wore step counters at their day program. Each 30-minute session had two parts: baseline free time, then the Step it UP! Game.
In the game, staff split clients into two teams. The team with the most steps won a small prize drawing. Staff used a multielement design to flip the order each day.
What they found
Every adult more than doubled their steps during the game. Baseline averaged 28 steps per minute; the game pushed it to 62 steps per minute.
No extra coaching or prompts were needed. The simple contest and a chance at a dollar-store prize did the work.
How this fits with other research
Asaro et al. (2023) ran a similar team contest at school recess. They also saw big gains in physical activity, showing the trick works for kids and adults.
Zerger et al. (2016) tried one-on-one adult attention with preschoolers. Only some kids moved more, and the effect was smaller. The difference: little kids may need personal praise, while adults with disabilities respond to team competition.
Fluharty et al. (2024) added a quick group preference test before their classroom game. You could borrow that step to pick prizes your adults truly want.
Why it matters
You can run Step it UP! tomorrow. Split your group, pass out cheap pedometers, set a 30-minute timer, and award a small prize. No extra staff, no fancy tech. Expect walking to double and health risks to drop.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
Engaging in regular physical activity has been shown to decrease the risk of health conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, and high blood pressure. Several studies have shown that physical activity is lower among individuals with neuro-atypical developmental and intellectual disabilities as compared to neurotypical individuals. The current study evaluated the effects of the Step it UP! Game on the mean number of steps taken per minute with adults with disabilities. Participants were divided into 2 competing teams, and the team with the highest step count at the end of each session participated in a prize drawing. The Step it UP! Game was compared to baseline conditions using a multielement design. Mean step count increased from 24.35 steps per minute during baseline to 54.76 steps per minute during the intervention. All 10 participants took more steps during the Step it UP! Game.
Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 2023 · doi:10.1002/jaba.968