For over two decades, Susan (Sue) Kasser, Ph.D., has been a pioneering force in adapted exercise programming at the University of Vermont. Her initiatives, Individually Designed Exercise for Active Lifestyles (IDEAL) and Unified Fitness, pair UVM students with community members who have disabilities or chronic conditions together in exercise programs that educate while also advancing health.
The IDEAL program was developed from Dr. Kasser's expertise as a researcher in balance and postural control involving individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS). Dr. Kasser saw a gap in translating research evidence to real-world applications which led to the creation of the IDEAL program, emphasizing fall prevention and functional training for people with MS.
“Back in the 1990s, people were told not to exercise with MS,” Dr. Kasser explains. “The field has moved drastically, and with it, my knowledge and expertise in fall prevention and balance control interventions.”
Participants with MS from across Vermont travel to take part in the IDEAL program, which is customized based on each participant’s interests, abilities, and needs. The program incorporates exercises to improve strength, mobility, and the ability to multi-task, thereby reducing significant fall risks for individuals with the disease.
Some IDEAL participants have been attending since the program’s start in 1998. While data shows improvements in balance, mental wellbeing, perceived fatigue, and ambulation, the anecdotal evidence is even more compelling. “I've had some adults in the IDEAL program say, ‘I’m still mobile because I've been doing this,’” Kasser said. “When we look at community mobility and quality of life, this program is really about making a difference.”
Dr. Kasser also set up the Unified Fitness Club at UVM, a program in collaboration with VT Special Olympics that brings together young adults with intellectual disabilities opportunity for regular physical activity and fitness programming. Throughout the sessions, juniors and seniors in Exercise Science gain valuable experience while serving as peer mentors for participants.
A theme of Dr. Kasser’s career is service to the communities she works with, both in and out of the classroom. In 2013, she started an exercise program for individuals with Parkinson’s disease at UVM, with critical involvement from student volunteers who supported participants. The program's success led to its statewide expansion by two community physical therapists in 2015, benefiting over 100 Vermonters with Parkinson's. She has served as the lead instructor in major-specific coursework focused on adapted physical activity or exercise in chronic conditions. Her rigorous courses push students to strengthen the critical thinking skills they will need as future practitioners. Although she will retire this spring, her programs will continue. The Unified Fitness program will remain in the UVM Rowell Building, organized by another Exercise Science faculty member, while the IDEAL program will continue at a local physical therapy clinic in collaboration with a Physical Therapy faculty member at UVM.
“The IDEAL and Unified Fitness programs provide excellent opportunities for community members to participate in individualized exercise programs and valuable experiences for students to apply their knowledge to improve people’s quality of life,” said Dr. Boyi Dai, chair of UVM’s Department of Rehabilitation Science. “Continuing these two programs is essential to promote the unique strengths of the UVM Exercise Science curriculum with hands-on experience, community engagement, and service learning. The Department is also in the process of designing more pro bono programs to provide free, accessible, evidence-based clinical guidance, experience, and service to the community to show our appreciation to outstanding colleagues like Dr. Kasser and the many people who have done great work in making Vermont a better place for everyone.”
