European Journal of Adapted Physical Activity - Most viewed articles
Results 31 to 60 of 185:
PHYSICAL SELF-PERCEPTIONS AND SELF-ESTEEM IN MALE BASKETBALL PLAYERS WITH AND WITHOUT DISABILITY PLAYERS WITH AND WITHOUT DISABILITY: A PRELIMINARY ANALYSIS USING THE PHYSICAL SELF-PERCEPTION PROFILE
José Pedro Ferreira, Kenneth R. Fox
European Journal of Adapted Physical Activity 1, 35-49 (2008) | DOI: 10.5507/euj.2008.003 
The purposes of this study were threefold. The first aim was to test the reliability and validity of a Portuguese version of the Physical Self-Perception Profile (PSPPp) in elite basketball players and determine its sensitivity to assess Self-perceptions in athletes with and without physical disabilities. The second aim was to assess the relationship between variables such as length of sport career, frequency of doing sport and competitive level, and Self-perceptions in the physical domain as well as Global Self-esteem both in athletes with and without disability. The third aim was to assess the relationship between disability-specific variables such...
PHYSICAL SELF-CONCEPT AND SELF-ESTEEM IN ADOLESCENTS AND YOUNG ADULTS WITH AND WITHOUT PHYSICAL DISABILITY: THE ROLE OF SPORTS PARTICIPATION
Stefano Scarpa
European Journal of Adapted Physical Activity 4, 38-53 (2011) | DOI: 10.5507/euj.2011.003
The present study aims to investigate the role of physical activity and sports participation on physical self-concept and self-esteem in adolescents and young adults with and without physical disability. The participants were 1149 individuals aged between 13 and 28 (578 boys and 571 girls). They were divided into four groups: (A) without disability who practised sport (n = 742), (B) without disability who did not practise sport (n = 264), (C) physical disabled who practised sport (n = 109), (D) physical disabled who did not practise sport (n = 34). The participants completed the Physical Self-Description Questionnaire (PSDQ; Marsh, Richards, Johnson,...
Video modeling and Test of Gross Motor Development-3 performance among children with autism spectrum disorder
Layne Case, Joonkoo Yun
European Journal of Adapted Physical Activity 11, 9 (2018) | DOI: 10.5507/euj.2018.009
The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of video modeling on Test of Gross Motor Development-3 (TGMD-3) performance among children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Thirteen participants with ASD were assessed under two separate TGMD-3 protocol conditions—traditional and video modeling. Raters were blind to the protocol condition they were observing in order to prevent bias towards one condition. Total gross motor scores were analyzed using a one-way repeated-measures ANOVA. While improvements in overall gross motor scores with the video modeling condition were observed among children with ASD, differences were not statistically...
Physiological Responses of Youth Players During Wheelchair Basketball Games
Ryan T. Conners, Jeremy M. Elliott, David L. Kyle, Stacy Solomon, Paul N. Whitehead
European Journal of Adapted Physical Activity 13, 9 (2020) | DOI: 10.5507/euj.2020.005
The purpose of this study was to document physiological responses that result from participation in youth wheelchair basketball (WCB) games. Each participant (4 males, 2 females, mean age = 15.2 y, SD= 1.8 y) completed a peak aerobic capacity upper-body cycle ergometer test until fatigue. Additionally, each participant competed in two regular season youth WCB games while wearing a Polar Pro Team System heart rate (HR) monitor. During competition, average HR, peak heart rate (HRpeak), playing intensity, total distance covered, training load score, and caloric expenditure were recorded. Results from the study indicated a HR mean = 140.8 b×min-1,...
Understanding Parent Support for Physical Activity among Parents of Children and Youth with Disabilities: A Behaviour Change Theory Perspective
Rebecca Bassett-Gunter, Sunita Tanna, Kelly Arbour-Nicitopoulos, Ryan E. Rhodes, Jennifer Leo
European Journal of Adapted Physical Activity 13, 11 (2020) | DOI: 10.5507/euj.2020.008
Parent support facilitates physical activity among children and youth with disabilities (CYD). Parent physical activity support is a behaviour unto itself which requires motivation and effort, yet its predictors are not well understood. Guided by the theory of planned behaviour (TPB) and multi-process action control (M-PAC) framework, the study aimed to identify predictors of physical activity support among parents of CYD (N = 95; 83.2% female). TPB and M-PAC variables were assessed, followed by parent physical activity support behaviour four weeks later. Regression analysis identified TPB (i.e., perceived behavioural control for child physical activity,...
A Collaborative Approach for Engaging Students with Severe Disabilities in Physical Education
Michelle Grenier, Matthew Patey, Lauren Lieberman, Ali Brian
European Journal of Adapted Physical Activity 13, 12 (2020) | DOI: 10.5507/euj.2020.007
There is research on the barriers teachers face including students with disabilities, and the extant literature is limited with regard to collaboration between general and special education. To increase the likelihood of effective collaboration, relationships among colleagues should involve on-going and sustained communication regarding students’ skills. The purpose of this study was to examine the collaborative practices between general and special educators in providing access to the curriculum for students with severe disabilities in general physical education. Our primary questions included: How do general and special educators define and...
A community-based exercise program for ambulant adolescents with cerebral palsy, a feasibility study
Asfarina Zanudin, Thomas H Mercer, Cynthia Samaan, Kavi C Jagadamma, Gillian McKelvie, Marietta L van der Linden
European Journal of Adapted Physical Activity 14, 12 (2021) | DOI: 10.5507/euj.2021.003
The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility of an 18-week exercise program for adolescents with cerebral palsy (CP). Fourteen individuals aged 16-25 (GMFCS I-III) performed aerobic and strength exercises at their community leisure center up to three times a week. A physiotherapist provided instruction at the first session and between 2-4 times thereafter. The fitness instructor on duty provided supervision when required. Feasibility of the exercise program was explored through an exercise logbook and participant feedback questionnaire. Gross motor function, muscle strength, aerobic capacity and the Timed Up and Go test were assessed at...
Athletes’ motivation, anxiety, and locus of control at the Brazilian powerchair football national championship
Angela Nogueira Neves, Marcelo Callegari Zanetti, Joelson Guilherme de Almeida, Míriam Raquel Meira Mainenti, Patrícia dos Santos Vigário
European Journal of Adapted Physical Activity 15, 7 (2022) | DOI: 10.5507/euj.2021.011
The aim of this study was to evaluate motivation, competitive anxiety, locus of control and their associations with performance and training parameters. This cross-sectional study included 24 male athletes (Mage = 28.3 years, SD = 11.0) who were approached during the functional classification session, the day prior to the start of the Brazilian Powerchair Football National Championship and invited to participate in the study. The Sports Motivation Scale-II, Competitive State Anxiety Inventory-2, and Locus of Control in Sports Scale were used to collect data. From the results, autonomous motivation was more prominent than controlled motivation...
Navigating middle school physical education with a physical disability: Personal experiences and challenges
Candace Brink, Martin Block
European Journal of Adapted Physical Activity 17, 8 (2024) | DOI: 10.5507/euj.2024.005
This study uses a social justice model, to explore the lived experiences of people with physical disabilities during their general physical education classes in middle school. In this qualitative study, the authors conducted semi-structured interviews with 10 participants to develop themes from participants’ experiences through a social justice lens (equality, equity, participation, justice). Description and narrative are presented from the five central themes that developed from the interviews: a.) favouritism of athletes; b.) did not ask my opinion; c.) treated me like I had an intellectual disability; d.) did not know how to deal with me;...
EFFECTIVE PRACTICES OF COACHING DISABILITY SPORT
Jeffrey John Martin, Laurel Whalen
European Journal of Adapted Physical Activity 7, 13-23 (2014) | DOI: 10.5507/euj.2014.007
One of the most critical factors of sport performance is coaching. In this review paper we examine the pertinent literature on the historical trends in disability sport to provide discussion on the following: a) the negative ramifications (e.g., over-training, failing to taper) athletes often experience when they perform without a coach, b) the perceived challenges (e.g., not understanding an athlete's disability) of disability sport coaching of high-level coaches, c) the positive outcomes athletes experience (e.g., increased motivation and autonomy) when they have good quality coaching, and d) the necessary competencies (e.g., understanding the psychology...
Physical fitness of individuals with intellectual disability who have Special Olympics experience
Pauli Rintala, Piritta Asunta, Jukka Lahti, Edwin Michael Loovis
European Journal of Adapted Physical Activity 9, 13-19 (2016) | DOI: 10.5507/euj.2016.006
Physical fitness of individuals with intellectual disability (ID) is low compared to those without ID. Part of the missionof Special Olympics is to develop physical fitness. However, little is known about fitness levels of SpecialOlympics athletes. This study examined the fitness level of individuals who participated in Nordic Special OlympicsGames 2008 in Finland. The sample consisted of 59 Special Olympics athletes (44 men, 15 women, age 16-45)whose fitness scores were compared to INAS-athletes (International Association of Sport for para-athletes withID) and Finnish non-athletic individuals with ID. The fitness battery consisted of 8 items: BMI,...
Ball trajectories and the probability of scoring a goal in elite male goalball throws
Rafael Fujita, Otávio Furtado, Márcio Morato
European Journal of Adapted Physical Activity 14, 7 (2021) | DOI: 10.5507/euj.2021.001
Goalball court can be divided into six sectors, each measuring 1.5m in width. The sectors are used for analysing the game. To shed light on spatial factors that may influence offensive and defensive success in goalball, we analysed the throwing frequency and attack efficacy with different ball trajectories in elite male goalball attacks. We determined the origin and target sectors (sector 1 on the far-right goalpost of the court and sector 6 to the left goalpost to goalpost) of 7949 throws from 49 matches played at Paralympic Games and World Championships. The reliability ranged from .82 to 1.00 using the Kappa index. Our findings showed that attackers...
A synthesis of potential impairment assessment tools for Para dressage classification
Rachel C. Stockley, Lindsay St George, Jill Alexander, Joseph Spencer, Sarah Jane Hobbs
European Journal of Adapted Physical Activity 15, 11 (2022) | DOI: 10.5507/euj.2022.011
The key aim of classification in Para sport is to try and ensure that competitors are grouped so that they compete against others with impairments that cause a similar level of activity limitation within a specific sport. This synthesis aimed to identify existing, valid, and reliable, impairment assessment tools to measure eligible impairments that influence an individual’s ability to compete at Para dressage. A multi-stage approach was employed, where a systematic search of professional databases of impairment assessment tools first identified 35 tools for Para dressage. Then, a search strategy was developed, based on these 35 tools, and 305...
Effect of a motor behavior course on kinesiology students’ attitudes toward disability: A quasi-experimental study.
Samuel W. Logan, Layne Case, Kathleen R. Bogart, Erica Woekel
European Journal of Adapted Physical Activity 16, 5 (2023) | DOI: 10.5507/euj.2022.016
This quasi-experimental study used a nonrandomized, control group pre-test post-test research design to determine the effect of a motor behavior course with a social justice perspective on undergraduate students’ attitudes toward people with disabilities, alignment with the medical and social models of disability, and mobility beliefs. Undergraduate students enrolled at a public university (n=714) completed survey measures before and after participation in a 10-week course. Intervention group participants (n=357) were drawn from a required course for Kinesiology students that included social justice topics and video-based contact with people...
Quality of reporting on physical activity content and teaching perspective. A scoping review on children with autism.
Anette Bentholm, Daniel Ramskov
European Journal of Adapted Physical Activity 16, 8 (2023) | DOI: 10.5507/euj.2022.014
The objective of this scoping review was to provide an overview of the variety and characteristics of publications on physical activity (PA) in studies including children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and to evaluate the quality of the available information on PA content and description of teaching. This is important because completeness of intervention reporting holds great value for practitioners, patients, community leaders, and policymakers. The following research questions were answered (i) How is the PA content description completeness according to the 12 items in the Template for Intervention Description and Replication (TIDIeR)...
Disability and physical activity perspectives of Hmong mothers who have a child with a disability
Jenifer Yang, Josephine A. Blagrave
European Journal of Adapted Physical Activity 16, 15 (2023) | DOI: 10.5507/euj.2023.007
Even though Hmong people have a unique history and culture, they are often overlooked and lumped together with other Asian American groups within the United States. Their experiences are rarely examined in depth, particularly when it comes to Hmong families with children who have disabilities. As the number of disabilities among racial and ethnic groups has grown, the services available to and research conducted about a few of those communities, such as the Hmong people, have been insufficient. Traditionally, Hmong people are active with their daily routines such as hunting and farming. Purposeful physical activity like joining a recreational sport...
Physical activity barriers among adults with physical disabilities or chronic diseases during and after rehabilitation: the ReSpAct cohort study
Maaike Wildekamp, Leonie A. Krops, Bregje L. Seves, Florentina J. Hettinga, Han Houdijk, Rienk Dekker, Femke Hoekstra
European Journal of Adapted Physical Activity 17, 11 (2024) | DOI: 10.5507/euj.2024.008
Adults with physical disabilities or chronic diseases face numerous barriers to participate in physical activity (PA). There is little knowledge about how these PA barriers evolve during and after rehabilitation, and how this relates to PA behaviour. In this study, we investigated how perceived PA barriers change over time for adults with physical disabilities or chronic diseases during and after rehabilitation, and their associations with PA behaviour. A total of 1,065 individuals from the longitudinal cohort study Rehabilitation, Sports, and Active Lifestyle (ReSpAct) were examined at various time points from baseline to 52 weeks post-rehabilitation....
USING PEER-MEDIATED INSTRUCTIONS FOR STUDENTS WITH SEVERE AND MULTIPLE DISABILITIES IN INCLUSIVE PHYSICAL EDUCATION: A MULTIPLE CASE STUDY
Aija Klavina
European Journal of Adapted Physical Activity 1, 7-19 (2008) | DOI: 10.5507/euj.2008.005
The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of peer-mediated and teacher - directed instructions on the activity engagement time of students with severe and multiple disabilities (SMD). The data were obtained during inclusive general physical education sessions under two kinds of instructional support conditions for three students with SMD: (a) teacher-directed, and (b) peer-mediated. Instructional behavior data showed that during peer-mediated support conditions the instructions provided by tutors were more frequent than instructions provided by teachers during teacher-directed conditions. Physical behavior data indicated that peer-mediated...
RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN MAINSTREAM PARTICIPATION RATES AND ELITE SPORT SUCCESS IN DISABILITY SPORTS
Rinske de Jong, Bart Vanreusel, Rita van Driel
European Journal of Adapted Physical Activity 3, 18-29 (2010) | DOI: 10.5507/euj.2010.002
The purpose of this study was to determine relationships between participation rates in mainstream and elite sports for persons with a disability and the chieved elite sport success. Data on performances of Dutch athletes of 16 of the 2008 summer Paralympic sports in which the Netherlands were active and on mainstream participation of these 16 sports have been obtained by questionnaires and additional interviews. Spearman's correlation or Kendall's tau were used to analyse relationships in all Paralympic sports and in team and individual sports separately, while correcting for gender differences. It can be confirmed that a two-way relationship...
THE EFFECT OF BLOCKED VERSUS RANDOM TRAINING SCHEDULES ON BOCCIA SKILLS PERFORMANCE IN EXPERIENCED ATHLETES WITH CEREBRAL PALSY
Luke Morriss, Julie Wittmannová
European Journal of Adapted Physical Activity 3, 17-28 (2010) | DOI: 10.5507/euj.2010.006
Efficiently maximising sporting performances through structuring of training sessions has become a very important focus over the past twenty years. Very little study directly related to boccia exists for athletes with cerebral palsy (CP) and consequently information on performance measures is scarce. The aim of study was to measure the effect of blocked versus random training schedules on boccia skills performance. Fourteen experienced national-level athletes with CP (M = 23.6 years) participated in this study. Athletes were divided in two intervention groups and followed prescribed blocked (n = seven athletes) and random (n = seven athletes) training...
THE INFLUENCE OF SHORT TERM, INTENSIVE HIPPOTHERAPY ON GAIT IN CHILDREN WITH CEREBRAL PALSY
Markku Honkavaara, Pauli Rintala
European Journal of Adapted Physical Activity 3, 29-36 (2010) | DOI: 10.5507/euj.2010.007
The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of short term hippotherapy on functional gait changes in children with cerebral palsy (CP). Participants were two boys (ages 12 and 13) with spastic diplegia and a girl (14 yrs) with athetoid CP. Single-subject (ABA) design was used to determine quantitative changes in functional gait parameters (velocity, stride length, and cadence) following three weeks of hippotherapy. The two boys demonstrated improvement in stride length and gait velocity without sustained improvement in cadence. There was increase in stride length and cadence, but most noticeable improvements in velocity for the girl. The...
ADAPTED PHYSICAL ACTIVITY IN REHABILITATION
Joeri Verellen, Bartosz Molik
European Journal of Adapted Physical Activity 4, 34-45 (2011) | DOI: 10.5507/euj.2011.007
This manuscript reports the outcome of a project entitled "European Standards in Adapted Physical Activities" (EUSAPA). The purpose of this project was to define the purpose and the added value of an Adapted Physical Activity program as a part of the rehabilitation program. Furthermore, pointing out the goals and the benefits of adapted physical activities, and defining the key activities of an Adapted Physical Activity program in rehabilitation, will result in the specification of a number of competences required to successfully fulfill such a program. From these competencies, suggestions will be made for the optimization of current curriculum requirements...
SELF-EFFICACY OF PRE-SERVICE PHYSICAL EDUCATION TEACHER TOWARD TEACHING STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES IN GENERAL PHYSICAL EDUCATION CLASSES IN SERBIA
Luka Jovanoviæ, Martin Kudláèek, Martin E. Block, Ivana Djordjeviæ
European Journal of Adapted Physical Activity 7, 32-46 (2014) | DOI: 10.5507/euj.2014.009
The aim of this research is to determine the level of self-efficacy among students studying Sport and Physical Education at the three Universities in Serbia, toward teaching students with intellectual disabilities (ID), physical disabilities (PD) or visual impairment (VI) in GPE classes in Serbia. Participants were 120 students (75 males and 45 females) mean age ± 22.85at the last year at Faculty of Sport and Physical Education from University of Belgrade (UBG), University of Nis (UNI) and University of Novi Sad (UNS). Situational-specificSelf-Efficacy and PhysicalEducatorsScale (SE-PETE-D, Block, Hutzler, Barak&Klavina, 2013) was used to...
The Effect of Peer Tutoring in Physical Education for Middle School Students with Severe Disabilities
Aija Klavina, Karina Rodionova
European Journal of Adapted Physical Activity 8, 3-17 (2015) | DOI: 10.5507/euj.2015.005
This study assessed the effect of peer tutoring on physical, instructional and social interaction behaviors between middle school age students with severe and multiple disabilities (SMD) and peers without disabilities. Additional measures addressed the activity time of students with SMD. The study was conducted in inclusive general physical education settings under two instructional support conditions for students with SMD: (a) teacher-directed, and (b) peer-mediated. During teacher-directed conditions students with SMD had frequent interactions with education personnel while interactions with peers were minimal. When peer -mediated conditions were...
European Journal of Adapted Physical Activity in the second decade
Martin Kudlacek
European Journal of Adapted Physical Activity 11, 1 (2018) | DOI: 10.5507/euj.2018.007
Editorial
A Qualitative Exploration of Factors Influencing Physical Activity Behaviour for Individuals with Parkinson’s Disease Using the Social Ecological Model
Bradley MacCosham, Evan Webb, Wahid Hamidi, Jessica Oey, Francois Gravelle
European Journal of Adapted Physical Activity 14, 4 (2021) | DOI: 10.5507/euj.2020.012
Physical activity (PA) can benefit individuals with Parkinson’s disease (PD), however, many individuals tend to be sedentary. This qualitative study explored factors influencing PA behaviour for individuals with PD using the social ecological model. Twelve individuals with PD took part in semi-structured interviews. Data were thematically analysed. Results suggest that individuals with PD experience several constraining and facilitating factors to PA behaviour. Intrapersonal constraints revolved around uncertainties that PA is beneficial for individuals with PD, a lack of interest in available PA programs, and disease-specific issues whereas...
“It gives her a sense of accomplishment”: What parents say when children with disabilities ride.
Alice M. Buchanan, A. Kaitlyn Higgins
European Journal of Adapted Physical Activity 16, 3 (2023) | DOI: 10.5507/euj.2022.007
This interpretive study explored participants’ perceptions of their child’s involvement in Equine-Assisted Activities and Therapies (EAAT). EAAT is implemented with a horse and is based on the notion that interacting with the horse has positive benefits. Such activity is nearly always reported to have positive effects on the child. Few studies have investigated the perceptions of the parents of their children’s participation in horseback riding activities. The purpose of this study is to determine how parents and/or guardians perceive how EAAT impacts their young riders, and the epiphanic ways in which the parents view those changes....
Comparison of the vertical jump performance of footballers with cerebral palsy at different competitive levels
Matías Henríquez, Kevin Campos-Campos, Raúl Smith, Sebastián Aliste, Sonny Riquelme, Raul Reina
European Journal of Adapted Physical Activity 16, 4 (2023) | DOI: 10.5507/euj.2022.013
Vertical jump (VJ) capacity is a common assessment for monitoring athletes' neuromuscular function and has been proposed as a differentiating indicator between competitive levels of football players. This study aimed to compare the VJ capacity of Chilean footballers with cerebral palsy (CP) with international and national levels of proficiency, also according to their sport classes (i.e., FT1‒FT3). A total sample of 41 male footballers with CP were divided into international-level (n = 18) and national-level (n = 23) groups. All the participants performed two maximal squat jumps (SJs) and countermovement jumps (CMJs), where the best height obtained...
Effects of a school-based integrative neuromuscular training exercise intervention on physical fitness among children with autism spectrum disorder
Craig Coffey, Damien Sheehan, Avery D. Faigenbaum, Sean Healy, Rhodri S Lloyd, Sharon Kinsella
European Journal of Adapted Physical Activity 16, 11 (2023) | DOI: 10.5507/euj.2023.004
The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of an eight-week, school-based integrative neuromuscular training (INT) intervention on the fitness levels of seventy-eight, 4-12-year-old children with mild, moderate, or severe symptoms of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Children participated in an INT intervention, consisting of three, one-hour sessions per week. Physical fitness was assessed pre-and post-intervention using a modified Eurofit test battery and analysed using a 3x2 ANOVA. This INT intervention resulted in significant improvements of physical fitness (p < .05) pre- to post-intervention (20 m sprint [p = .044], standing broad jump,...
Children with neurodevelopmental disorder participating in an intervention –physical activity on prescription (PAP): parent’s reasoning about their children’s participation in sport.
Lars Kristén, Maria Nyholm, Marie Lydell
European Journal of Adapted Physical Activity 16, 12 (2023) | DOI: 10.5507/euj.2022.009
Children with disabilities engage less in physical activity and sports during their spare time compared to their peers without disabilities. Modern sports, contextual factors, and parents’ fear of discrimination have been discussed as barriers to participation. The aim of this study is to describe parents’ experiences of their child with neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD) participating in a PAP intervention. The intervention involved a Child and Adolescent Psychiatry outpatient clinic (CAP), the Regional Sport Federation, and local sport clubs in the southwestern region of Sweden. A sample of 13 parents took part in semi-structured interviews,...