Publications by authors named "Cora J Firkin"
Article Synopsis
- The text discusses the importance of effective methodologies for assessing physical activity (PA) and sedentary behavior (SB) in adults with intellectual disabilities (ID), highlighting concerns over existing methods primarily focused on the general adult population.
- The review analyzed 8,174 studies, narrowing down to 91 that met specific criteria, and found diverse assessment techniques and metrics, such as daily minutes of activity and steps, but noted inconsistencies in methodology, including data collection tools and strategies.
- The authors emphasize the necessity for improved consistency and accessibility in PA and SB assessment methodologies tailored for adults with ID, suggesting that custom preparation and varied behavioral strategies could make assessments more effective and inclusive.
Background: A relatively low percentage of Black youth meet physical activity (PA) guidelines. An important resource for helping Black youth be physically active is the availability of quality youth physical activity opportunities (YPAO) which manifest, in part, due to support from small businesses. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic was a devastating negative societal event that disproportionately burdened the Black community.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjectives: To evaluate the accessibility and usability of parks and playgrounds in New Castle County, Delaware, for people with disabilities, with a particular focus on identifying environmental barriers that may impede access to these public spaces and potentially affect physical activity (PA) participation for the chronic disease prevention and mitigation.
Methods: Using a cross-sectional observational design, teams of trained University of Delaware students utilized the Community Health Inclusion Index (CHII) Tool to assess the accessibility of ten suburban and urban parks and playgrounds from April to November 2023. The tool evaluated various elements of public spaces, including public transit, parking, pathways and multi-use trails, entrances, playground equipment, and health promotional materials.
Background: Adults with an intellectual disability (ID) have low cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF). Low CRF has been associated with a high risk of cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality. Participation in regular exercise can help adults with ID increase their CRF.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAdults with an intellectual disability have significantly lower levels of fitness compared with the general population. This study examined the effects of a 13-week theoretically guided, community-based, multicomponent resistance training intervention, resistance training for empowerment, on muscular strength and independent functional performance in 24 adults with an intellectual disability, aged 18-44 years. Twelve participants were randomly allocated to an experimental group and 12 to an active control group.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: Muscular strength is critical for adults with an intellectual disability (ID) to promote their mobility, cardiovascular capacity, and performance of daily living/recreational/vocational activities. This article reports the results of the first systematic review and meta-analysis of peer-reviewed clinical trials that evaluated the effects of resistance training (RT) interventions on muscular strength in adults with ID.
Methods: The protocol was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42020184905).