Organized Sport Participation and Physical Activity Levels among Adolescents with Functional Limitations

Sufficient and regular physical activity is considered a protective factor, reducing the onset of secondary disability conditions in adolescents with chronic diseases and functional limitations. The aim of this study was to explore whether participation in organized sport may be associated to higher levels of physical activity in adolescents with functional limitations, based on a national representative sample. Data from the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study collected in Finland from two data collection rounds (2002 and 2010) were conducted and pooled from adolescents aged between 13 and 15 years old with functional limitations (n = 1041). Differences in self-reported p…

The Development and Initial Validation of a Short, Self-Report Measure on Social Inclusion for People with Intellectual Disabilities-A Transnational Study.

Sport has been promoted as a means of increasing the social inclusion of persons with intellectual disabilities. Suitable tools for evaluating this claim are not readily available. The aim of this study was to develop a self-report tool for use by people with intellectual disabilities regarding the social inclusion they experience in sport and in the community. A three-phase process was used. In the first phase an item bank of questionnaire items was created and field-tested with 111 participants. Initial factor analysis identified 42 items which were further evaluated in Phase 2 with 941 participants from six European countries. Construct validity was established first through Exploratory …

Public health nurses' approaches to early childhood physical activity in Finland.

This study was conducted using five focus groups with 24 public health nurses from regional child health clinics in order to explore health professionals' perceptions concerning physical activity. Participants were professionally experienced (mean 13.9 years), female (mean 46.2 years) nurses with some training in health-enhancing physical activity. Frame analysis of verbatim transcripts resulted in four frames: the environmental frame, the family frame, the natural frame and the wellbeing and health frame. The importance of physical and social environment, especially the role of parents, was highlighted as determinants of physical activity. Furthermore, the natural characteristics of physi…

Intra-Rater Test-Retest Reliability of Self-Reported Child Functioning Module

Determining disability prevalence is an important area for population statistics, especially among young adolescents. The Washington Group on Disability Statistics is one source of reporting disabilities through functional difficulties. However, young adolescents self-reporting this measure is in its infancy. The purpose of this study was to carry out an intra-rater test-retest reliability study on a modified set of items for self-reporting functional difficulties. Young adolescents (n=74; boys=64%; age m=13.7, SD=1.8) completed a self-reported version of the child functioning module in a supervised classroom. The second administration took place two weeks later. Intraclass correlation coef…

Cross validation of the 1-mile walking test for men with mental retardation.

The purpose of this study was to cross validate the equation developed by Rintala et al. (1992) to estimate the cardiorespiratory efficiency of men with mental retardation (MR). Subjects were 19 healthy men (27 ± 8 yr) with MR (IQ = 58 ± 12). Following familiarization, a graded maximal treadmill test and two 1-mile walk tests (Rockport Fitness Walking Test, RFWT) were administered. The peak VO 2 value was the criterion measure used to cross validate the equation. The equation was: Peak VO 2 (ml.kg -1 .min -1 ) = 101.92 - 2.356 (MILE) -0.420 (WEIGHT). The mean differences were 2.04 (MILE 1 )(P = 0.02) and 2.43 (MILE 2 )(P = 0.004) ml.kg -1 .min -1 . A significant positive correlation was fou…

Intra-Rater Test-Retest Reliability of a Modified Child Functioning Module, Self-Report Version

Determining disability prevalence is a growing area for population statistics, especially among young adolescents. The Washington Group on Disability Statistics is one source of reporting disabilities through functional difficulties. Yet, young adolescents self-reporting through this measure is in its infancy. The purpose of this study was to carry out an intra-rater test-retest reliability study on a modified set of items for self-reporting functional difficulties. Young adolescents (N = 74

Suspected motor problems and low preference for active play in childhood are associated with physical inactivity and low fitness in adolescence.

Background This prospective longitudinal study investigates whether suspected motor problems and low preference for active play in childhood are associated with physical inactivity and low cardiorespiratory fitness in adolescence. Methodology/Principal Findings The study sample consisted of the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1986 (NFBC 1986) composed of 5,767 children whose parents responded to a postal inquiry concerning their children's motor skills at age 8 years and who themselves reported their physical activity at age 16 years. Cardiorespiratory fitness was measured with a cycle ergometer test at age 16 years. Odds ratios (OR) and their 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) for the level o…

Self-esteem and intentions mediate perceived fitness with physical activity in Finnish adolescents with long-term illness or disabilities

Background: The International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) is recognised as the common language in disability research. However, personal factors in the ICF are not explicitly coded because of cultural differences that influence physical activity (PA) participation. The ICF suggests using fitness as a personal factor, as well as other psychological assets. Intentions may serve as such psychological assets and studies on the antecedents to intentions which prompts PA behaviours is lacking in adolescent long term illness or disability (LTID) populations. Objective: The purpose of this study was to report how ICF personal factors can influence participation in PA.…

Measuring Motor Skills in Finnish Children with Intellectual Disabilities

This investigation examined differences in motor skill development between Finnish children (12 boys, 8 girls) with mild intellectual disability and typically developing Finnish children between the ages of 7 and 11 years. Ulrich's Test of Gross Motor Development (TGMD) assessed the performances of 20 children with intellectual disability and an age- and sex-matched sample of 20 children without disabilities. Videotaped performances were assessed by the authors who were very familiar with the TGMD–2. The group with intellectual disability performed at a statistically significantly lower level on the Gross Motor Quotient, Locomotor, and Object Control subtests of TGMD–2, compared to the gro…

Physical Activity Among Adolescents With Long-Term Illnesses or Disabilities in 15 European Countries.

Physical activity (PA) is an important health-promoting behavior from which adolescents with long-term illnesses or disabilities (LTID) can benefit. It is important to monitor differences across countries in adherence with PA recommendations for health. The aim of this study was to compare PA levels among 15 European countries after disaggregating data by disability. Data from pupils (mean age = 13.6 years, SD = 1.64) participating in the 2013/2014 Health Behavior in School-aged Children study were analyzed to compare adolescents without LTID, with LTID, and with LTID that affects their participation (affected LTID). Logistic regression models adjusted for age and family affluence, stratifi…

High-risk individuals’ perspective on risk of Type 2 Diabetes and physical activity in the prevention of diabetes. A qualitative study

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY PATTERNS OF ADOLESCENTS WITH LONG TERM ILLNESSES OR DISABILITIES IN FINNISH GENERAL EDUCATION

Physical activity (PA) of adolescents with long term illnesses or disabilities (LTID) in general education is examined to provide evidence of PA levels from specific population groups. This study describes the PA levels of adolescents with LTID based on recommendations of daily 60mins of moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) and vigorous leisure time PA (VPA) of at least two times a week for at least one hour per week. Finnish data from the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study was pooled from 2002 and 2010 surveys. 1126 respondents (14.6%) self-reported as having a LTID and details of main categories of LTID were used to examine PA behaviours. Overall, 15.6% of adolescents with LT…

Motor skills of young adults with Asperger syndrome: A comparative study

Motor skill difficulties are mentioned as a common feature of Asperger syndrome (AS) but specific information regarding young adults is scarce. The purposes of this study were: to compare the motor skills of young adults with AS with age and gender matched controls using the updated version of the standardized Movement Assessment battery for children (M-ABC-II), and to compare the motor skills between younger and older participants within both groups (index and control group). Additionally validity and reliability of the M-ABC-II for use with the present population were explored. Young adults with AS performed these motor tasks at a remarkably lower level than their peers. They continued to…

Physical Activity Trends of Finnish Adolescents With Long-Term Illnesses or Disabilities From 2002–2014

Background:Adolescents’ physical activity level is a major source of concern. For adolescents with long-term illnesses or disabilities (LTID), being physically active can prevent secondary conditions. This is one of the first studies reporting trends in physical activity of adolescents with LTID in relation to gender, age, and sports club membership.Methods:Data were collected from the Health Behavior in School-aged Children study in Finland during 2002, 2006, 2010, and 2014. In 13- and 15-year-olds (N = 2206), 17.1% reported having LTID. Daily physical activity recall was the dependent variable. Binary logistic regression analysis was conducted eparately for sports club members (n = 936) a…

Yhdenvertaisuuden todellisuus ja harhat

Suuri määrä ihmisiä on vammaisuuden vuoksi yhä yhteiskuntien marginaalissa. nonPeerReviewed

Cross-Cultural Comparison of American and Finnish College Students' Exercise Behavior Using Transtheoretical Model Constructs

Although the benefits of exercise are well documented, an international problem of physical inactivity exists. More research, especially theory based, has been recommended. One promising approach for studying exercise behavior is that proposed in the Transtheoretical Model (TTM) of behavior change. This model, however, has received minimal cross-cultural attention and, relative to the current study, measurement instruments have only recently been translated into the Finnish language. The purpose of this study was to assess American and Finnish college students' exercise behaviors on the basis of TTM. Participants were American (n = 169) and Finnish (n = 168) college students who completed l…

Meeting the 24-h movement guidelines and health-related outcomes among youth with autism spectrum disorder: a seven-country observational study

Abstract Background Meeting daily guidelines for physical activity, screen time, and sleep duration is associated with a host of health indicators for youth. In this cross-sectional observational study, we investigated the associations between adherence to the movement guidelines and health-related outcomes among youth with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Methods Parents of youth with ASD (10–17 years) from seven countries and regions were invited to provide online proxy-reports for child’s movement behaviors (i.e., physical activity, sleep and screen time), and health-related outcomes (i.e., body mass index [BMI], general health, and quality of life). A series of multiple linear regression…

Perceived sufficiency of physical activity levels among adults at high risk of type 2 diabetes. The FIN-D2D study

Purpose. This study assessed the determinants of perceived physical activity levels (PALs) among adults at high risk of diabetes, and the associations with self-reported physical activity. Methods. In total, 10,149 adults participated in the FIN-D2D lifestyle intervention at baseline. Opportunistic screening was used in identifying high risk individuals. Physical activity and perceived PAL sufficiency were assessed and compared. Key risk factors for diabetes and psychosocial and demographic characteristics were analyzed as determinants using logistic regression. Results. PAL sufficiency was rated realistically by 73% of men and 75% of women. Perception of sufficient PAL was more likely amon…

'I saw what the future direction would be...' : Experiences of diabetes risk and physical activity after diabetes screening

Objectives To improve understanding of how individuals at high risk of type 2 diabetes experience the risk of diabetes and how these experiences relate to the adoption of physical activity as a protective behaviour. Design A qualitative study using semi-structured interview with individuals identified by screening as at high risk of type 2 diabetes. Methods Fourteen individuals, aged 40–64, were interviewed twice, with a 2-year interval between. Participants' experiences of their risk of diabetes and physical activity were assessed. The transcribed interview data were analysed using inductive qualitative content analysis. Results Two themes emerged from the data: a threatening risk percepti…

Toimintarajoitteita kokevien nuorten liikunta- ja urheiluseura-aktiivisuus sekä istumisen määrä

Vammaisista henkilöistä puhutaan usein yhtenäisenä ryhmänä ikään kuin vamma olisi kaikilla samanlainen tai sen vaikutukset toimintakykyyn samankaltaiset. Vaikka erilaisten vammojen ja pitkäaikaissairauksien tiedetään rajoittavan ihmisten tekemistä eri lailla, liikunta-aktiivisuutta mittaavissa tutkimuksissa tai tilastoinneissa niitä ei ole useinkaan eroteltu. Syinä ovat voineet olla esimerkiksi pienet tutkittavien määrät tai liian yleiset mittausmenetelmät. Tämän tutkimuksen tavoitteena on tarkastella vuoden 2016 ”Lasten ja nuorten liikuntakäyttäytyminen Suomessa” (LIITU) -tutkimuksen aineistossa toimintarajoitteisuutta, liikunta-aktiivisuutta, liikuntaseuraan kuulumista ja istumisen määrää…

Daily physical activity in Finnish adolescents with long-term illnesses or disabilities: psychosocial associations with participation in sports club

Background: Physical activity (PA) in adolescence with long term illnesses or disabilities (LTID) is a public health concern. One way of increasing PA is through participation in sports clubs. Since sports clubs are organised and regular, there are expected to be differences in motivation for physical activity between adolescents that are members and non-members. The purpose of this study is to assess the impact of psychosocial factors on sports club membership and daily PA. Methods: Finnish adolescents with self-reported LTID (n=1006) took part in the WHO collaborative Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study in 2002 and 2010. Daily self-reported moderate to vigorous PA (MVPA)…

Fundamental movement skill proficiency and body composition measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry in eight-year-old children

Objective: The main aim was to examine the association between fundamental movement skills (FMS) and objectively measured body composition using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Methods: Study of 304 eight-year-old children in Finland. FMS were assessed with the Test of Gross Motor Development, 2nd ed. (TGMD-2). Total body fat percentage (BF%), abdominal region fat percentage (AF%), and fat-free mass (FFM) were assessed by DXA. Waist circumference, height and weight were measured and International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) cut-off values for BMI were used for the definition of healthy weight and overweight/obesity. Results: Better FMS proficiency (object-control, locomotor, total FMS…

Preparation for ISAPA 2021 in the midst of COVID-19

Editorial for Volume 13, Issue 2, 2020

Heart rate responses during the modified six-minute walk test among Special Olympics athletes

Objective: The construct validity of the modified six-minute walk test (m6MWT) was examined by addressing the following questions: 1) do participants attain a steady state plateau in heart rate (HR) within the range of 110-150 beats per minute? 2) at what percentage of their predicted HR maximum were participants during each minute of the test? Material and Methods: Participants were 36 (male=56%) Special Olympics athletes aged 34.4 years (SD = 12.7). Following familiarization, participants completed the m6MWT while wearing a Polar Team 2 heart rate monitor. Results: By the end of the first minute, average heart rate was 120bpm, and a factorial repeated measures ANOVA revealed that steady s…

New Era of EUJAPA

Fundamental movement skills and weight status in children: A systematic review

Background Obesity has become a major health challenge in children. Fundamental movement skills (FMS) are suggested to have an important role for being physically active and decreasing the risk of obesity. This systematic review aimed to give an overview of studies providing evidence for a relationship between FMS and the weight status in children. Material/Methods A systematic search of five electronic databases (MEDLINE (PubMed), SportDiscus, ERIC, PsycInfo and SCOPUS) was conducted in January 2015. Studies examining associations between FMS and weight status in children aged 3–12 years were included. Results The final sample included 12 cross-sectional studies. Seven studies found statis…

Lasten ja nuorten liikuntakäyttäytyminen Suomessa : LIITU-tutkimuksen tuloksia 2018

Eight-year-old children with high cardiorespiratory fitness have lower overall and abdominal fatness.

1) To examine whether cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) is associated with waist circumference (WC) and overall and abdominal fatness in eight-year-old girls and boys. 2) To determine whether children with high CRF have lower WC, overall and abdominal fatness within the same body mass index (BMI) category compared with those with low CRF.A cross-sectional study of 304 eight-year-old children in Tampere, Finland whose parents responded to a postal invitation and participated in measurements.Total body fat percentage (BF%), abdominal region fat percentage (AF%), and fat-free mass (FFM) were assessed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). WC, height and weight were measured. International BM…

Correlates of Sedentary Behaviour in Adults with Intellectual Disabilities—A Systematic Review

Individuals with intellectual disabilities (ID) are at high risk for high levels of sedentary behaviour. To inform the development of programmes to reduce sedentary behaviour, insight into the correlates is needed. Therefore, the aim of this study is to review the evidence on correlates of sedentary behaviour in adults with ID. We performed a systematic literature search in Ovid Medline, Ovid Embase, Web of Science and Google Scholar up to 19 January 2018, resulting in nine included studies that were published from 2011 to 2018. Correlates were categorized according to the ecological model. Studies predominantly focused on individual level correlates. Of those correlates studied in more tha…

Perceived need to increase physical activity levels among adults at high risk of type 2 diabetes. A cross-sectional analysis within a community-based diabetes prevention project FIN-D2D

Abstract Background Increased physical activity is a cornerstone of type 2 diabetes prevention. The perception of a need to change is considered essential in behaviour change processes. However, the existing literature on individuals’ perceived need to change health behaviour is limited. In order to improve understanding of diabetes prevention through increased physical activity levels (PAL), we assessed factors associated with perceiving a need to increase PAL among adults at high risk of diabetes. Methods Opportunistic screening was used within a primary-care based lifestyle intervention covering 10 149 men and women at high risk of type 2 diabetes. Data were obtained at baseline visits. …

Tukea tarvitsevien lasten vapaa-ajan liikunta-aktiivisuus, ohjattu liikunnan harrastaminen ja liikunnan esteet

Lasten ja nuorten terveyskäyttäytymistä on tutkittu koululaisilta jo vuosikymmeniä laajoissa kansallisissa kyselytutkimuksissa, mutta erityiskoulussa tai -luokalla opiskelleet oppilaat ovat jääneet näiden tutkimusten ulkopuolelle. Kyselyt ovat rajoittuneet yleisopetuksessa oleviin oppilaisiin, joista osa on ollut tukea tarvitsevia oppilaita. TUTKA-hankkeen (Vammaisten ja pitkäaikaissairaiden koululaisten osallistuminen toimintakykyä ja liikuntakäyttäytymistä mittaaviin seurantatutkimuksiin, 2017–2018) osatavoitteena, sekä tämän artikkelin tarkoituksena, oli selvittää erityiskouluissa ja perusopetuksen erityisluokilla opiskelevien lasten ja nuorten vapaa-ajan liikunta-aktiivisuutta, ohjatun …

Nuorten liikuntakäyttäytyminen Suomessa : LIITU-tutkimuksen tuloksia 2020

‘Life is team play’: social inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities in the context of Special Olympics

This article provides insights from an empirical study on the meaning of social inclusion for Finnish athletes with intellectual disabilities (ID) who participate in Special Olympics (SO). A further objective was to explore the athletes’ perceptions of the role SO has played in their lives regarding their personal experiences of social inclusion. Data were transcripts of five focus group interviews carried out with a total of 31 participants during the last SO World Winter Games in 2017. The content was analysed with the aim of identifying the main themes in the athletes’ conversations about social inclusion. Three main themes were identified: inclusion as a contrast to past discrimination;…

Vammaiset ja pitkäaikaissairaat nuoret ovat aktiivisempia kuin vuosikymmen sitten

Noin kuudesosalla peruskoulua käyvistä nuorista on vamma tai pitkäaikaissairaus. Yhä useampi vammainen nuori osallistuu urheiluseuratoimintaan. Myös suosituksen mukaisesti liikkuvien nuorten osuus on kasvussa. Urheiluseuratoimintaan osallistumisen lisää näiden nuorten mahdollisuuksia suositusten mukaiseen liikuntaan. nonPeerReviewed

Do adolescents with long-term illnesses and disabilities have increased risks of sports related injuries?

peer-reviewed Background: The aim of this study is to examine the rates of sports related injuries in adolescents based on the severity of their long-term illnesses or disabilities (LTID). Few injury prevention strategies in sports and health promotion have explored disaggregation by disability. Methods: Data obtained from the 2014 Finnish Health Behaviour in School-aged Children survey (n = 3716, mean age = 14.8, SD = 1.03) were grouped into adolescents with and without LTID. A further indicator or severity was determined when adolescents reported their LTID affected their participation (affected LTID). Odds ratio (95% CI) were used to determine the associations between sports related inju…

Daily physical activity in Finnish adolescents with long term illnesses or disabilities: psychosocial associations with participation in sports club


 Background:
 Physical activity (PA) in adolescence with long term illnesses or disabilities (LTID) is a public health concern. One way of increasing PA is through participation in sports clubs. Since sports clubs are organised and regular, there are expected to be differences in motivation for physical activity between adolescents that are members and non-members. The purpose of this study is to assess the impact of psychosocial factors on sports club membership and daily PA.
 Methods:
 Finnish adolescents with self-reported LTID (n=1006) took part in the WHO collaborative Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study in 2002 and 2010. Daily self-reported moder…

Physical fitness profile of elite athletes with intellectual disability

The aim of this study was to investigate the physical fitness profile of high-performance athletes with intellectual disability (ID) in comparison with able-bodied individuals. Methods: Participants were 231 male and 82 female athletes. All evaluations were done using the EUROFIT physical fitness test. Results: In comparison with population data, both male and female athletes with ID score better for flexibility and upper body muscle endurance, but have similar or lower values for running speed, speed of limb movement, and strength measures. Compared with agematched physical education students, male athletes with ID score better for running speed and flexibility, and worse for strength. Fem…

Age and sex-based differences in functional strength of adults participating in Special Olympics

Muscular strength is a critical component of physical health. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to examine age- and sex-based differences in functional strength and rates of referral for education in a large international sample of Special Olympics athletes. A total of 30,358 (male = 19,661) adult (20–69 years old) athlete functional strength records were utilized from the Special Olympics Healthy Athletes database. Descriptive statistics were computed for the following tests: timed sit to stand, partial sit-up, grip strength, and seated push-up. Analyses of variance with Fisher-Hayter pairwise comparisons generally supported age-related decreases in strength among both males and fe…

Effectiveness of an exercise training program on youth with Asperger syndrome

Although exercise training programs are effective in improving physical fitness and motor competence in typically developing youth, insufficient data of the impact of interventions are available in youth with Asperger syndrome (AS). The purpose of this study was to examine the efficacy of an exercise program as part of an ongoing vocational training program for adolescents with AS on motor competence and physical fitness. Twenty adolescents with AS (mean age = 16.8yrs) were enrolled in this study. A quasi-experimental nonequivalent-control-group design with a follow-up measurement over a period of six months was followed. The intervention group received a 12-week physical exercise program f…

Scores on test of gross motor development of children with dysphasia: a pilot study.

The purpose of this preliminary investigation was to assess the gross motor skill and trainability of children with dysphasia using the Test of Gross Motor Development. 27 children from 7 to 12 years ( M = 9.6 yr., SD=1.3) from four different classes in one special school participated. The gross motor skill scores of a sample of children with dysphasia, their trainability of the gross motor skills, and the intrarater reliability of the test were examined. Based on the videotaped performances the intrarater reliability was .93 to .97 for total scores, but lower for individual test items. Mean motor skill scores of these children with dysphasia were interpreted as ‘poor’ relative to those of…

Reliability and validity of the Finnish version of the motor observation questionnaire for teachers.

Objectives: Observational screening instruments are often used as an effective, economical first step in the identification of children with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD). The aim was to investigate the psychometric properties of the Finnish version of the Motor Observation Questionnaire for Teachers (MOQ-T-FI).Methods: The psychometric properties were tested using two separate samples (S1: age range 6-12, M 9y 5mo, females 101, males 92; S2: age range 6-9, M 7y 7mo, females 404, males 446). Teachers completed the MOQ-T-Fl in both samples, and in sample 2 teachers' ratings were compared to student's performance on the Movement Assessment Battery for Children-Second Edition (MABC…

Motoriikan havainnointilomake (MOQ-T) suomalaisille opettajille - Motor Observation Questionnaire for Teachers -lomakkeen kulttuurinen kääntäminen

Motorisen oppimisen vaikeuksia kuvaava termistö on hyvin kirjavaa. Suomessa ongelmien diagnosoinnissa käytetään käsitteitä kehityksellinen koordinaatiohäiriö ja motoriikan kehityshäiriö. Lapsia, joilla on motorisen oppimisen ongelmia, arvioidaan olevan noin 5–6 prosenttia ikäluokasta; jokaisessa koululuokassa on siis keskimäärin yksi oppilas, joka tarvitsee motoriseen oppimiseensa tukea. Vaikka häiriö on yleinen, liikuntaa opettavilta opettajilta puuttuu työkalut motoriikan oppimisvaikeuden tunnistamiseen kouluympäristössä. Tämän tutkimuksen tarkoituksena oli tehdä kulttuurinen käännös hollantilaisesta opettajille kehitetystä Motor Observation Questionnaire for Teachers (MOQ-T) -lomakkeesta…

Association of poverty and social exclusion with body mass index among Special Olympics athletes in Europe.

Objectives To examine the association of a risk of poverty and social exclusion (AROPE), age, and gender with the body mass index (BMI) status of European Special Olympics athletes. Methods BMI records were available for 1905 children and youth and 5517 adults from the Special Olympics International (SOI) Health Promotion database. AROPE was extracted from EU Eurostat statistics. Logistic regression analyses were used to predict BMI status. Results For children/youth and adults, respectively, 9.4 and 6.3% were underweight and 25.3 and 44.6% were overweight/obese. Being underweight was significantly associated with higher AROPE rates. Being female and lower AROPE rates were significantly ass…

Physical activity promotion in public health nursing practice with children

Background: Physical activity has become a major public health concern even in early childhood. This article exemplifies physical activity promotion in practice as described by public health nurses from Finnish primary health care. Method: We gathered the data by purposive sampling in five regional focus groups with 24 informants working in child health clinics provided for all families with children below school age. Statements associated with physical activity promotion were extracted out of verbatim transcripts. Frequency counting complemented qualitative analysis of the content of statements. Findings: Child-centred evaluation provided by public health nurses focused on motor developmen…

The effects of a psychomotor training programme on motor skill development in children with developmental language disorders

Abstract The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of two approaches to movement intervention for children with a combination of language and movement difficulties – a specialist approach labelled psychomotor training and regular PE lessons from trained PE teachers. From a sample of 76 children formally classified as suffering from developmental language disorder, 54 (71%) fell below the 15th percentile on a test of motor competence. These 54 children were then divided into two groups, one of whom received a 10 week psychomotor training programme and the other regular PE lessons. Although all children, regardless of the type of intervention, made progress, the differences b…

Reliability Assessment of Scores from Video-Recorded TGMD-3 Performances

This study examined the intrarater and interrater reliability of the Test of Gross Motor Development—3rd Edition (TGMD-3). Participants were 60 Finnish children aged between 3 and 9 years, divided into three separate samples of 20. Two samples of 20 were used to examine the intrarater reliability of two different assessors, and the third sample of 20 was used to establish interrater reliability. Children’s TGMD-3 performances were video-recorded and later assessed using an intraclass correlation coefficient, a kappa statistic, and a percent agreement calculation. The intrarater reliability of the locomotor subtest, ball skills subtest, and gross motor total score ranged from 0.69 to 0.77, a…

Associations of muscular fitness and body composition in children

Purpose: To examine the associations between muscular fitness (MF) and body composition. Method: MF was assessed with three tests of FitnessGram test battery. Total body fat percentage (BF%), abdominal fat percentage (AF%) and fat-free mass (FFM) were measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). The IOTF body mass index (BMI) cut-offs were used to define healthy weight, overweight, and obesity. Results: MF was inversely associated with BF% and AF%. The children in the moderate and high MF groups had significantly lower BF% and AF% compared with the children in the low MF group within the same BMI category. After adjusting for cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), BMI and sex, the differen…

Editorial

Muscular strength of adult Special Olympians by country economic status

There is a strong relationship between economic prosperity and health as well as between muscle strength and health (morbidity and mortality). However, very little research has concomitantly examined economic prosperity and muscular strength in the general population, and no studies have simultaneously examined these factors in a population of adults with intellectual disabilities. This study examined grip strength among adult Special Olympics participants by country economic status. A total of 12,132 (men = 65%) right and left hand grip strength records were available from the Special Olympics International (SOI) FUNFitness database. The 127 countries within the SOI dataset were grouped by…

Definitions, measurement and prevalence of sedentary behaviour in adults with intellectual disabilities – a systematic review

Supporting positive change in lifestyle behaviours is a priority in tackling the health inequalities experienced by adults with intellectual disabilities. In this systematic review, we examine the evidence on the definition, measurement and epidemiology of sedentary behaviour of adults with intellectual disabilities. A systematic literature search of PUBMED, EMBASE, MEDLINE and Google Scholar was performed to identify studies published from 1990 up to October 2015. Nineteen papers met the criteria for inclusion in the systematic review. Many researchers do not distinguish between insufficient physical activity and sedentary behaviour. None of the studies reported the reliability and validit…

Physical Activity of Children With and Without Long-Term Illness or Disability

Background:We know very little about physical activity in children with long-term illness or disability compared with those children without disabilities. Previous studies indicate low physical activity levels among all adolescents.Methods:The sample consisted of Canadian (n = 2720) and Finnish pupils (n = 3459) approximately 13.5 and 15.5 years of age in general (mainstreamed) education. The study is a part of the Health Behavior in School-aged Children (HBSC) study. Nationally representative data were collected in 2002 using a standardized questionnaire. The moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity screening measure was used.Results:Approximately one-fifth of the pupils in both co…

Device-based physical activity levels among Finnish adolescents with functional limitations

Background Monitoring physical activity among young adolescents with disabilities is a top academic priority. People with disabilities are a diverse group with various abilities in different human functioning. Therefore, we used a novel approach through functional limitations as a marker for disabilities and examined physical activity levels. Objective To investigate the levels and differences in light (LPA) and moderate-to-vigorous (MVPA) intensity physical activity between young adolescents with and without functional limitations. Methods The study included young adolescents (n = 1436) aged 11–15 years olds who attended general schools that were part of the 2016 Finnish School-aged Physic…

Motivating Individuals With Disabilities to Be Physically Active

The benefits of exercise andlor physical activity among individuals with disabilities have been well documented. However, very few people with disabilities are active. In this paper, a series of contemporary theoretical models will be presented to facilitate the identification of strategies to increase individuals with disabilities' opportunities and motivation toward physical activitylexercise. These models can be empirically tested by researchers, and practitioners can be guided by the hypothesized relationships to determine optimal strategies for motivating physical activity participation. This blend of theory, research, and practice in adapted physical activity scholarship may result in…

Physical fitness of individuals with intellectual disability who have special olympics experience

Physical fitness of individuals with intellectual disability (ID) is low compared to those without ID. Part of the mission of Special Olympics is to develop physical fitness. However, little is known about fitness levels of Special Olympics athletes. This study examined the fitness level of individuals who participated in Nordic Special Olympics Games 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 with ID) and Finnish non-athletic individuals with ID. The fitness battery consisted of 8 items: BMI, sit-and-reach test, stork stand, sit …

Physical activity intention and attendance behaviour in Finnish youth with cerebral palsy – results from a physical activity intervention: an application of the theory of planned behaviour

Physical activity is associated with better health in individuals with cerebral palsy (CP). Numerous physical activity interventions have been designed to promote physical activity among youth with CP. No previous studies have explored the factors contributing to the intention to participate and predicting attendance behaviour for these interventions. Using theory of planned behaviour (TPB), this study explored the prediction of physical activity intention and attendance behaviour in a physical activity intervention aiming to promote physical activity in a sample of young individuals with CP. Males with CP aged 9–21 years were asked to complete measures of attitude, subjective norms, percei…

Familiarization process in cardiorespiratory fitness testing for persons with mental retardation

The purpose of this article is to review the familiarization protocols and other factors used in laboratory and field testing studies implemented to measure the cardiorespiratory fitness of persons with mental retardation. Test selection issues, pretest familiarization procedures, and motivational strategies will be discussed. Little information is available to identify specific guidelines for familiarizing a subject with a specific protocol prior to cardiorespiratory fitness testing. The recommendations suggested in this article provide valuable and necessary information for researchers interested in the measurement of cardiorespiratory fitness of persons with mental retardation.

Soveltavan liikunnan maailmankongressi Suomessa 2021

Suomalaisen soveltavan liikunnan juuret ulottuvat 1960-luvulle. Määrätietoisemman kehittämisen aika alkoi 1980-luvulla, jolloin asetetut suuntaviivat näkyvät yhä soveltavan liikunnan käytännöissä. Kesällä 2021 Suomi ja Jyväskylä pääsevät virtuaalisesti alan kansainväliseen valokeilaan. nonPeerReviewed

LIITU 2018 -tutkimus : liikunnan merkitysten kirjo on kaventunut

Hieman reilu kolmasosa suomalaislapsista ja -nuorista liikkui suosituksen mukaan – toimintarajoitteita kokevista joka neljäs. Lasten ja nuorten liikunnalle antamien merkitysten kirjo oli kaventunut ja esteet vahvistuneet, vaikka koettu pätevyys ja liikuntamotivaatio olivat korkealla. Suurin osa lapsista ja nuorista kannatti urheilun eettisten sääntöjen noudattamista. Säännöllinen liikkuminen oli myönteisesti yhteydessä koettuun terveyteen. Säännöllisesti liikkuvilla oli myös vähemmän yksinäisyyden kokemuksia. nonPeerReviewed

3–10-vuotiaiden lasten motoriset perustaidot

Motoriset perustaidot ja niiden kehittyminen luovat perustan lapsen liikkumiselle ja kokonaisvaltaiselle fyysiselle aktiivisuudelle. Perustaidot tulisi oppia hallitsemaan ennen kouluikää. Lapsuuden aikaiset hyvät motoriset taidot ennustavat runsaampaa fyysistä aktiivisuutta myös myöhemmin nuoruusvuosina. Motorisilla taidoilla on lisäksi yhteyksiä lapsen kognitiivisiin taitoihin, terveystekijöihin sekä psykologista hyvinvointia kuvaaviin muuttujiin. Toistaiseksi Suomesta puuttuvat lasten motorisia taitoja mittaavat laajat kartoitukset, jonka vuoksi tämän tutkimuksen tarkoituksena oli kuvata, minkä- laiset ovat 3–10-vuotiaiden tyttöjen ja poikien motoriset perustaidot vuonna 2015. Tutkimuksee…

Device-based physical activity levels among Finnish adolescents with functional limitations.

Abstract Background Monitoring physical activity among young adolescents with disabilities is a top academic priority. People with disabilities are a diverse group with various abilities in different human functioning. Therefore, we used a novel approach through functional limitations as a marker for disabilities and examined physical activity levels. Objective To investigate the levels and differences in light (LPA) and moderate-to-vigorous (MVPA) intensity physical activity between young adolescents with and without functional limitations. Methods The study included young adolescents (n = 1436) aged 11–15 years olds who attended general schools that were part of the 2016 Finnish School-ag…

Suspected motor problems and low preference for active play in childhood are associated with physical inactivity and low fitness in adolescence

Background - This prospective longitudinal study investigates whether suspected motor problems and low preference for active play in childhood are associated with physical inactivity and low cardiorespiratory fitness in adolescence. Methodology/Principal Findings - The study sample consisted of the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1986 (NFBC 1986) composed of 5,767 children whose parents responded to a postal inquiry concerning their children's motor skills at age 8 years and who themselves reported their physical activity at age 16 years. Cardiorespiratory fitness was measured with a cycle ergometer test at age 16 years. Odds ratios (OR) and their 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) for the lev…