scholarly journals Frame running to confidence: the athlete-perceived impact of an adapted physical activity on aspects of physical fitness, functional mobility and psychosocial outcomes

Author(s):  
Marietta L. Van der Linden ◽  
Petra E.M. Van Schie ◽  
Emma Hjalmarsson ◽  
Georgia Andreopoulou ◽  
Martine H.G. Verheul ◽  
...  

Objective: Frame Running (RaceRunning) allows people with moderate-to-severe mobility impairments to participate in physical activity using a 3-wheeled frame with a saddle and handlebars. The aim of this study was to investigate athlete-perceived impact of Frame Running on aspects of physical fitness, functional mobility and psychosocial outcomes. Design: Survey. Participants: Frame Running athletes aged 5 years and over. Methods: A survey was distributed to athletes through their club or sports organization. Results: The survey was completed by 115 athletes (53 females). Median age was 17 years (range 5–62 years) and 64 (57%) used a wheelchair or walker for distances over 50 m. Many felt that Frame Running stretched their muscles (n=93, 87%) and increased their self-confidence (n=63, 93%). Four (4%) reported extreme fatigue or sore muscles after training (n=17, 15%). Of the 110 athletes who had been participating in Frame Running for over 3 months, 46 (47%) reported being less out of breath during mobility tasks and 66 (66%) felt they had improved their functional mobility. However, 7 (7%) reported increased muscle tightness and 4 (4%) reported a Frame Running-related injury lasting more than 4 weeks. Conclusion: Frame Running is a safe physical activity with athlete-perceived benefits on physical fitness, functional mobility and psychosocial outcomes.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Monika Širkaitė ◽  
◽  
Rita Gruodytė-Račienė

Lifelong engagement in physical activity (PA) may be increased and secured by achieving a sufficient level of physical literacy (PL) during childhood. The aim of this study is to assess if the level of physical activity (PL Domain 1), fitness (PL Domain 2), motivation and confidence (PL Domain 3), knowledge and understanding (PL Domain 4) of primary schoolchildren is sufficient. In addition, to investigate whether physical literacy of the 3rd grade students differ in relation to Physical Education (PE) being taught by their respective General teacher. For this purpose 9–10 year old students of four different classes of the same cohort (n = 93) of one of the school in second biggest city of Lithuania were recruited. The findings of this cross-sectional pilot study indicates that PA and physical competence for most of participants were of average or higher level, however, majority of them have not yet reached an acceptable level in such PL domains as Motivation & Confidence and Knowledge & Understanding. Significant differences (p < 0.05) comparing by class were found in Knowledge & Understanding, and in physical fitness domains. We may conclude that lower motivation, confidence and knowledge in PE determines lower physical literacy of primary schoolchildren. Furthermore, differences revealed in such PL domains as knowledge and understanding as well as physical fitness with regard to the different class and their respective general teacher may indicate the importance of the educator’s role and implemented PE curriculum for attaining the sufficient level of physical literacy of primary schoolchildren.


2018 ◽  
Vol 1 (108) ◽  
pp. 9-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Irina Klizienė ◽  
Laura Kimantienė ◽  
Ginas Čižauskas ◽  
Laura Daniusevičiūtė-Brazaitė ◽  
Gintautas Cibulskas ◽  
...  

Background.The purpose of this study is to estimate physical activity, physical fitness and assessment of mathematical achievements in primary schoolchildren. Methods. The study involved 1st grade students (N = 93), 45 of which were girls and 48 were boys. The flexibility test, the long jump test, 3 × 10 m speed shuttle run test, a medical (stuffed) 1 kg ball pushing from the chest test were used. Physical activity was measured using Children’s Physical Activity Questionnaire. Academic achievements were assessed using Mathematical diagnostic progress tests and mathematical learning achievements according to curriculum content. Results. It turned out that both boys (95.87 MET/min/week) and girls (91.30 MET / min/ week) were physically active in physical education lessons (p > 0.05). Long jump results ranged from 105.2 cm (girls) to 118.3 cm (boys), statistically significant differences were detected (p < 0.05) The best score of the girls’ shuttle running 3 × 10 m was 9.55 s, for boys it was 9.2 s, the worst performance time for boys was 13.68 s, for girls – 13.54 s (p < .05). Mathematics Diagnostic Progress Tests for both girls and boys indicated satisfactory levels. Conclusion. We should note that all 4 fitness tests had a positive, linear association with physical fitness tests and mathematics test scores.


Author(s):  
Avery K. Ironside ◽  
Nicole M. Murray ◽  
Lila M. Hedayat ◽  
Claire C. Murchison ◽  
Caitlyn A. Kirkpatrick ◽  
...  

Physiotherapy ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marzena Ślężyńska ◽  
Grzegorz Mięsok ◽  
Kamila Mięsok

AbstractIntroduction: The aim of the physical activity of the intellectually disabled is the strengthening of health, creating movement habits, promoting active recreation, and maintaining exercise capacity. Skillfully applied physical activity allows to mitigate the effects of pathology and create the compensations to enable the intellectually disabled people to live relatively independently. Physical activity and sport also increase their chances to integrate with their families, peers, and social environment.Materials and methods: The research targeted a group of 134 people with moderate or considerable intellectual disability (65 women and 69 men), aged 20-53 years, who participated in occupational therapy workshops in Jastrzębie Zdrój, Rybnik, and Żory. Physical fitness was assessed using the “Eurofit Special” test and balance tests. Measurements of body height and mass were also taken and then used to calculate the body mass index (BMI).Results: A salient somatic trait was the greater body mass relative to height among the persons with considerable disability, clearly illustrated by the BMI. This explained their greater heaviness in performing physical exercises. An even greater difference between participants with moderate and considerable intellectual disability was visible in physical fitness. Obviously, older persons did not achieve as good results in fitness tests as the younger ones, yet the participants were more differentiated by the level of disability than age. Most symptomatic differences to the disadvantage of the considerably disabled were observed in explosive strength, speed, abdominal muscle strength, and flexibility.Conclusions: Significant differences in fitness between the compared groups make it necessary to take into account the level of intellectual disability in the course of physical education and sport, at work, and in household duties.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sheeba Nadarajah ◽  
Susan Buchholz ◽  
Kristen Dickins

BACKGROUND Globally, cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death. Cardiovascular mortality can be decreased by participation in cardiac rehabilitation. Researchers are exploring the use of mHealth technology in cardiac rehabilitation. OBJECTIVE The aim of this systematic review is to examine the effectiveness of randomized controlled trials that use a mHealth intervention as a part of an outpatient and/or home-based cardiac rehabilitation program on improving physical activity and physical fitness outcomes. METHODS For this systematic review, mHealth interventions were limited to text messaging, mobile apps, and use of a mobile phone network for data transmission, used to deliver cardiac rehabilitation program. Using six databases, the search strategy included published English language studies through 2016. Data was extracted independently by two reviewers, and then synthesized. RESULTS The initial search yielded 149 articles, of which 15 articles that represented nine studies met inclusion criteria. Articles were published from 2010 to 2016 and came from two continents. The majority (84%) of participants were male. Generally, the participant mean age was late 50s to early 60s. Text messaging was the most frequently used intervention. The results of the physical activity and physical fitness findings were mixed. Effect sizes for intervention as measured by the 6-minute walk test ranged from 0.46 to 0.58 and peak VO2 ranged from 0.03 to 1.35. CONCLUSIONS Globally, use of mHealth in outpatient and/or home-based cardiac rehabilitation is being studied with greater attention. However, these studies are limited by geography, gender, and age. Therefore, further research in the area of cardiac rehabilitation and mHealth is recommended, especially in developing countries, among women, and older adults.


2020 ◽  
Vol 79 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 1287.1-1287
Author(s):  
P. Wegscheider

Background:Assistance dogs support humans with different physical disabilities: 1. Service dogs for people with diverse mobility impairments 2. signaling dogs for humans diagnosed with diabetes, hearing impairments, seizure, or posttraumatic stress disorder 3. guide dogs for people with visual impairments. Definitions and terms are not consistent over Europe; Austrian terminology is used in the following. These specially trained dogs support people in their everyday lives and make it possible that less help is required from personal assistants or caregivers. Diverse studies show this positive impact of assistance dogs on the quality of life of disabled people. There are just a few case reports from United States about service dogs for people diagnosed with any inflammatory rheumatic disorder. Dogs are trained individually for about 1.5 years before team training and the concluding team assessment through Austrian authorities take place. Since 2015, there has been an adapted legislation for service dogs in Austria which brings significant improvements in many areas. In comparison to the model set by Austria, there is no corresponding legal basis at EU level or in other European countries.Objectives:Case-report about my own situation diagnosed with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) in 2001 and my service dog May. May supports my every day live in private and business affairs since 2019Methods:May was trained for less than two years before team assessment. May is able to pick up things I dropped. These include coins, my key, my mobile phone, clothes, towels and lots of other things I want her to pick it up for me. May opens and closes doors, empties the washing machine, pulls the laundry basket and even helps me put on and take off clothes. In general, she carries many things which I instruct her to carry. I am able to learn her more new things in a short time. Furthermore May acts safe on public transport and even airplanes. Due to special training May is allowed to move without dog leash or muzzle. A muzzle or leash would handicap the dog’s work. As a result of May’s help I need less personal assistance.Results:May’s physical and psychological support gives me greater independence and increases my self-confidence. She was trained to specifically meet the needs of my disability. Beside her skills, May helps to reduce pain and burden of arthritis.Conclusion:My aim is to spotlight the great support of service dogs to severely affected arthritis patients. Austria had realized legislation for assistance dogs to guarantee certain permissions the owner’s needs (e.g. access to working place, hospital). I would love to raise awareness about assistance dogs to improve the knowledge about those animals to implement European legislation.References:[1]Arbeitskreis für Hygiene in Gesundheitseinrichtungen des Magistrats der Stadt Wien, MA 15, Richtlinie für den Umgang mit Assistenzhunden und Therapiehunden in Gesundheitseinrichtungen, 29.3.2017; access 1.10.2019[2]AK Krankenhaushygiene OÖ, Umgang mit Assistenzhunden in Gesundheitseinrichtungen, Version 1; access 1.2019[3]Bremhorst, A et al, Spotlight on Assistance Dogs- Legislation, Welfare and Research, Animals 2018, 8, 129; doi:10.3390/ani8080129[4]Deutsche Gesellschaft für Krankenhaushygiene (DGKH), Empfehlungen zum hygienegerechten Umgang mit Therapiehunden in Krankenhäusern und vergleichbaren Einrichtungen, Hyg Med 2017; 42-10[5]Glenk, LM et al, Perceptions on Helath Benefits of Guide Dog Ownership in an Austrian Population of Blind People with and without a Guide Dog, Animals 2019, 9, 428; doi:10.3390/ani9070428[6]Lundqvist, M et al, Certified service dogs- A cost- effectiveness analysis appraisal, Plos ones 12.9.2019, doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0219911[7]Sozialministeriumservice, Richtlinie Therapiehunde des Bundesministers für Arbeit, Soziales und Konsumentenschutz, 01.01.2015; access 1.10.2019Acknowledgments:I am very grateful to Kati Kohoutek, May’s trainer and the efforts of Austrian’s long lasting dog trainers and Karl Weissenbacher, the leader of Messerli Institute/ department of Veterinary University Vienna.Disclosure of Interests:None declared


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