PROMOTING PARTICIPATION IN COMMUNITY RUNNING FESTIVALS FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH PARKINSON’S DISEASE - A MODEL FOR MEANINGFUL PARTICIPATION

Community-based walking and running groups have become popular social phenomena in recent years. Integrating individuals with Parkinson’s disease into community-based walking and running events confers multiple socio-biological benefits, but may be problematic for individuals with Parkinson’s disease in the later stages of the disease progression. This research evaluates the participation of a group of individuals with Parkinson’s disease in a long-standing community running festival, the Gold Coast Marathon Festival. Evaluation of participation comprised: 1) description of the activities undertaken by the Exercise Physiologists to ensure the safe and effective participation of the interested parties; and 2) a qualitative evaluation of the participant’s experiences with the event. Ten adults with Parkinson’s disease (70% male), mean age 69.6 ± 7.8 years (range = 57-79) participated. Time post-diagnosis ranged 1 to 15 years (mean = 6.7 ± 4.4 years). Participants registered to complete one of two distances: 5.7 km (n = 9) or 700 m (n = 1). Activities undertaken by the Exercise Physiologist prior to participating were divided into three themes: participation, safety, and administrative requirements. Participant experiential data was divided into six themes: preparation prior to participating; pre participation planning and organisation; reasons/meaning for choosing to participate; barriers for participating; event recovery; and event suitability. The data collated was triangulated to provide recommendations to facilitate participation in similar events. The results of this study demonstrate that with effective planning and coordination, participation in community-based walking and running events confer physical and mental health benefits for individuals with Parkinson’s disease. However, significant barriers need to be addressed prior to participation to ensure meaningful participation. This paper provides recommendations for practicing Exercise Physiologists who wish to promote participation of their own clients with Parkinson’s disease in similar initiatives.