A Case Study on the Use of Exercise Equipment for the Deaf in South Korea

Research Objectives: This was a case study to analyze the accessibility of the deaf to exercise equipment in South Korea.

Design: It used a descriptive case study method based on the two researchers' observation of the subjects' use of exercise equipment and the analysis of an interview on the use of exercise equipment.

Setting: The observation was based on the process of the subject performing each exercise stage from entry to exit of the exercise equipment. And the sign language interpreter delivered how to use exercise equipment to the subject.

Participants: Five people with congenital deafness aged 26 to 55 were recruited.

Interventions: This is not an intervention study

Main Outcome Measures: All the deaf had difficulties in perceiving main exercise information such as instructions, methods, posture, and risk due to inexperience in the use of equipment themselves, regardless of whether or not they had experience using an exercise equipment.

Results: To increase the accessibility of the deaf in Korea to exercise equipment, an exercise assistant who can communicate in sign language can teach the correct exercise, or refer to exercise information such as exercise method, posture, and risk of exercise equipment. It is suggested that improvements such as attaching a sign language video QR code that is available are necessary.

Conclusions: We could suggest some improvements in order to increase the accessibility of the deaf in Korea to an exercise equipment. For example, when an exercise coach who can communicate in sign language be placed, it can be made the deaf learn the correct exercise information easier. It might be also suggested with some improvements such as attaching a sign language video QR code to the equipment.

Author(s) Disclosures: Nothing to specify about conflict of interest.