Perceptions Matter! Active Physical Recreation Participation of Children with High and Low Actual and Perceived Physical Competence.

Emerging evidence suggests that the accuracy of a child's perceived physical competence (PPC) impacts participation in physical activity. We examined differences in active physical recreation (APR) participation based on clusters of high and low motor competence and perceptions from grades 3-5. Participants were a longitudinal sample ( = 155; 85 girls) of grade three, four, and five children.

Participation in Special Olympics reduces the rate for developing diabetes in adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Aim: Adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) have a significantly higher prevalence of Type 2 diabetes than the general population. Evidence that lifestyle and/or behavioural interventions, such as participation in Special Olympics, decreases the risk of developing diabetes in adults with IDD could help minimize health disparities and promote overall health in this population.

Methods: This was a 20-year retrospective cohort study of adults with IDD (30-39 years) in the province of Ontario, Canada, that compared hazard rates of diabetes among Special Olympics participants (n = 4145) to non-participants (n = 31,009) using administrative health databases housed at ICES.

A randomized parent-mediated physical activity intervention for autistic children.

The purpose of this study was to examine the immediate and post effects of a parent-mediated physical activity intervention on the fundamental motor skills of autistic children. We randomly assigned parent-child dyads (n = 31) of autistic children aged 4-11 years into three groups (workshop, an online, or control group). Each dyad participated in a 12-week intervention and was given adapted physical activity equipment and over 200 activities via a mobile application.

The Influence of Perceptions of Competence on Motor Skills and Physical Activity in Middle Childhood: A Test of Mediation.

The mediating effect of perceptions of physical competence (PPC) on the relationship between motor competence and physical activity levels is documented in adolescence. However, it is unclear at what age this begins. In this study, we examined whether PPC mediated the relationship between moderate-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) or sedentary behaviour and motor competence in middle childhood.

Believe in You student empowerment program: A pilot study.

Introduction: The social and emotional health of youth is important, especially after students experience the COVID-19 pandemic. The purpose of this study was to understand the influence that the had on students social emotional learning (SEL) behaviors over a 10 week period during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Materials And Methods: A part of this quantitative study, one school in each the intervention and the control group (delayed intervention; 2 schools total) participated in the study.

Young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities who participate in Special Olympics are less likely to be diagnosed with depression.

Purpose: People with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) experience high rates of depression. Evidence indicates that physical activity, or participation in a sports club, in a supportive social environment has mental and physical health benefits. Adults with IDD, on average, engage in low levels of physical activity.

Matching Special Olympics registration data with administrative health databases: Feasibility and health status differences in children and youth with IDD.

Background: Children and youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) experience health disparities. What is unknown is if data collected from children and youth with IDD who participate in Special Olympics is representative of children and youth with IDD who do not.

Objectives: Aim 1: determine the feasibility of matching a database of registrants from Special Olympics Ontario (SOO), with population-based health services databases in Ontario, Canada housed at ICES.

A Randomized Feasibility Trial of a Fundamental Motor Skill Parent-Mediated Intervention for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders.

The purpose of this pilot study was to examine the feasibility of a fundamental motor skills (FMS) intervention with two groups on the acquisition of FMS of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). We randomly assigned families ( = 15) of children with ASD aged 4-11 years into two groups (a workshop or a home-based group) focused on FMS development. Both groups participated in a 10-week intervention and were given the same instructional manual and adapted physical activity equipment.

Physical activity promotion and adults with intellectual disabilities: A neglected area.

Background: The objective was to review physical activity (PA) promotion interventions among individuals with intellectual disability and provide recommendations for increasing PA.

Methods: A systematic mapping review was conducted in which physical activity intervention studies for adults with a disability were identified, selected, and appraised. Data were extracted regarding the study design, results, and authors' recommendations.

Prevalence of overweight among youth with chronic conditions in the United States: An update from the 2016 National Survey of Children's Health.

Background: Surveillance of overweight trends among youth with chronic conditions can inform the prioritization of funding, research and intervention.

Objectives: The primary objective of this study was to utilize the 2016 National Survey of Children's Health (NSCH) data to provide current estimates of the prevalence of overweight among US youth with common chronic conditions. A secondary purpose was to examine parental concern about weight status among youth with chronic conditions who were overweight.

Four Weeks of Off-Season Training Improves Peak Oxygen Consumption in Female Field Hockey Players.

The purpose of the study was to examine the changes in peak oxygen consumption ( V ˙O) and running economy (RE) following four-weeks of high intensity training and concurrent strength and conditioning during the off-season in collegiate female field hockey players. Fourteen female student-athletes (age 19.29 ± 0.

Longitudinal Change in the Relationship between Fundamental Motor Skills and Perceived Competence: Kindergarten to Grade 2.

As children transition from early to middle childhood, the relationship between motor skill proficiency and perceptions of physical competence should strengthen as skills improve and inflated early childhood perceptions decrease. This study examined change in motor skills and perceptions of physical competence and the relationship between those variables from kindergarten to grade 2. Participants were 250 boys and girls (Mean age = 5 years 8 months in kindergarten).

Maximizing the use of Special Olympics International's Healthy Athletes database: A call to action.

There is a critical need for high-quality population-level data related to the health of individuals with intellectual disabilities. For more than 15 years Special Olympics International has been conducting free Healthy Athletes screenings at local, national and international events. The Healthy Athletes database is the largest known international database specifically on the health of people with intellectual disabilities; however, it is relatively under-utilized by the research community.

Body mass index and waist circumference of Latin American adult athletes with intellectual disability.

Objectives: To examine both body mass index (BMI) status and waist circunference (WC) in a large international sample of adult Special Olympics participants from Latin America. It also explored the association of age and sex with obesity in this population.

Materials And Methods: BMI and WC records from a total of 4174 (2683 male and 1491 female) participant records from the Special Olympics International Health Promotion database were examined.

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.

Latin American Physical Educators' Intention to Teach Individuals With Disabilities.

Purpose: To analyze Latin American physical education (PE) teachers' intentions toward teaching students with disabilities.

Participants: 474 in-service PE teachers from 5 different Latin American countries.

Method: Descriptive survey.

An exploratory study of inclusive worksite wellness: Considering employees with disabilities.

Background: An increasing number of employers are offering worksite wellness programs, yet, little is known about the participation of workers with disabilities.

Objective: The primary purpose of this study was to explore the factors, which facilitate and impede participation in worksite wellness offerings by individuals with disabilities.

Methods: Participants completed the Access to Worksite Wellness Services to Employees with Disabilities (AWWSED).

Obesity in children with developmental and/or physical disabilities.

Children with developmental or physical disabilities, many of whom face serious health-related conditions, also are affected by the current obesity crisis. Although evidence indicates that children with disabilities have a higher prevalence of obesity than do children without disabilities, little is known of the actual magnitude of the problem in this population. To address this concern, the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) held a conference on obesity in children with intellectual, developmental, or physical disabilities, bringing together scientists and practitioners in the fields of obesity and disability to foster collaboration, identify barriers to healthy weight status in populations with disabilities, propose avenues to solutions through research and practice, and develop a research agenda to address the problem.

Body mass index of children and youth with an intellectual disability by country economic status.

Objective: Individuals with intellectual disabilities are at higher risk for health disparities including overweight and obesity; however, little is known at the population level about the BMI status of children and youth with intellectual disabilities. This study is a secondary analysis of BMI status (underweight, normal weight, overweight and obese) in children and youth (8-<18years) participating in Special Olympics by country economic status.

Methods: A total of 14,032 participants (n=8,856 male) measured height and weight records were available from the Special Olympics International Health Promotion database.

Exploring physical activity in women with multiple sclerosis: associations with fear of falling and underlying impairments.

Objective: The aim of this study was to conduct an exploratory analysis of fear of falling (FoF), balance, gait, and strength impairments and future physical activity in women with multiple sclerosis.

Design: This prospective study followed a convenience sample of 99 women with multiple sclerosis for 1 yr. The participants were assessed on FoF and perceived mental health by questionnaire.

Obesity trends of 8-18 year old Special Olympians: 2005-2010.

Obesity is a worldwide health problem. Individuals with intellectual disabilities (ID) experience health disparities, including higher rates of obesity than their peers with typical development; however, there has been no tracking of the obesity rates of children and youth with ID over time. The objective of this study was to compare the BMI of children and youth (8-<19 years of age) with and without ID in the USA, measured overtime; and determine differences between the two groups.

Body mass index trends among adult U.S. Special Olympians, 2005-2010.

This study examined temporal trends in body mass index (BMI) among United States adults with intellectual disability (ID) participating in Special Olympics from 2005 to 2010. In addition, the prevalence of obesity was compared with published National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) statistics. After data cleaning, 6,004 height and weight records (male = 57%) were available from the Special Olympics International Healthy Athletes Health Promotion database for the calculation of BMI.

Gait analysis of teenagers and young adults diagnosed with autism and severe verbal communication disorders.

Both movement differences and disorders are common within autism spectrum disorders (ASD). These differences have wide and heterogeneous variability among different ages and sub-groups all diagnosed with ASD. Gait was studied in a more homogeneously identified group of nine teenagers and young adults who scored as "severe" in both measures of verbal communication and overall rating of Autism on the Childhood Autism Rating Scales (CARS).

Two-legged hopping in autism spectrum disorders.

Sensory processing deficits are common within autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Deficits have a heterogeneous dispersion across the spectrum and multimodal processing tasks are thought to magnify integration difficulties. Two-legged hopping in place in sync with an auditory cue (2.

International BMI comparison of children and youth with intellectual disabilities participating in Special Olympics.

The purpose of this study was to describe the BMI status of children and youth with intellectual disabilities by world region, gender and age. A total of 9678 children and youth records were available from the Special Olympics International Health Promotion database after data cleaning (6084 boys and 3594 girls). Children were defined as 8-11 year olds (n=2035), and youth were defined as 12-18 year olds (n=7643).