Gender Differences in Self-Determined Motivation and Subjective Well-Being of Adapted Sport Athletes Members of the Special with Intellectual and Developmental Difficulties Members (Diferencias de género en la motivación autodeterminada y el bienestar sub

The Theory of Self-Determination has been used as a theoretical model of support in several studies on motivation in Sport. In this sense, we realize that motivation is a topic to which researchers have devoted much of their time, however, when researching adapted sports, and the person with Intellectual and Developmental Difficulty we observe a shortage in research. This study aimed to verify the levels of self-determination and subjective well-being of athletes members of the Special Olympics of Portugal, and ii) to compare the variables under analysis according to gender. In this quantitative study participated 94 athletes of Adapted Sports, aged between 11 and 63 years (ẋ=32.61 ± SD=13.8) of both genders, competitors of individual and collective sports. The monitoring instruments used were Behavioral Regulation in Sport Questionnaire (BRSQ), Basic Psychological Needs Exercise Scale (BPNES), Life Satisfaction Scale (SWLS) and Positive and Negative Attachment Scale (PANAS). Data analysis was based on the verification of the internal consistency of the scales applied through the calculation of alpha and Cronbach, descriptive analysis of data and application for gender comparison through the nonparametric test U Mann-Whitney, as well as a linear regression, meeting a significance level of 0.05. As a result, we observed that the satisfaction of basic psychological needs and motivation predict good levels of life satisfaction also of positive attachment. We also found statistically significant differences in life satisfaction and negative attachments when comparing gender outcomes. Resumen. La Teoría de la Autodeterminación se ha utilizado como modelo teórico de apoyo en varios estudios sobre la motivación en el Deporte. En este sentido, nos damos cuenta de que la motivación es un tema al que los investigadores han dedicado gran parte de su tiempo, sin embargo, a la hora de investigar deportes adaptados, y la persona con Dificultad Intelectual y de Desarrollo observamos una escasez en la investigación. Este estudio tuvo como objetivo verificar los niveles de autodeterminación y bienestar subjetivo de los atletas miembros de las Olimpiadas Especiales de Portugal, y ii) comparar las variables bajo análisis según género. En este estudio cuantitativo participaron 94 deportistas de Deportes Adaptados, con edades entre 11 y 63 años (ẋ = 32,61 ± DE = 13,8) de ambos sexos, competidores de deportes individuales y colectivos. Los instrumentos de seguimiento utilizados fueron el Cuestionario de Regulación Conductual en el Deporte (BRSQ), la Escala de Ejercicio de Necesidades Psicológicas Básicas (BPNES), la Escala de Satisfacción con la Vida (SWLS) y la Escala de Apego Positivo y Negativo (PANAS). El análisis de los datos se basó en la verificación de la consistencia interna de las escalas aplicadas mediante el cálculo de alfa y Cronbach, análisis descriptivo de los datos y aplicación para la comparación de género mediante la prueba no paramétrica U Mann-Whitney, así como una regresión lineal, cumpliendo un nivel de significancia de 0.05. Como resultado, observamos que la satisfacción de las necesidades psicológicas básicas y la motivación predicen buenos niveles de satisfacción con la vida también del apego positivo. También encontramos diferencias estadísticamente significativas en la satisfacción con la vida y los apegos negativos al comparar los resultados de género.

Career Development of Adapted Sports Coaches: Systematic Review of Qualitative Evidence Literature

This study aims to synthesize and understand the qualitative and empirical evidence previously published on adapted sports career development. This systematic literature review also aimed at developing a conceptual model of the training and career path of adapted sports coaches. The research was carried out through the following databases: PubMed, Erid, EBSCO, Web of Science and Scopus. We selected nine qualitative studies according to the specific eligibility criteria. Data extraction was carried out independently by different authors, including the assessment of the methodological quality of the articles. We developed a conceptual model composed of four descriptive subjects (adapted sport option; perception of training athletes in adapted sports; development of the adapted sports coach’s learning; adapted sports coach reality) about the adapted sports coach’s pathway and added three analytical subjects about the difficulties, opportunity and reality of adapted sports. The conceptual model suggests inclusion of practical activity programs, the specificities of related contents with the adapted modalities, and observation in a real context are fundamental.

Training and Profile of Special Olympics Portugal Coaches: Influence of Formal and Non-Formal Learning

Since coaches play an important role in the development of athletes, the process and mechanisms used by Special Olympics Portugal to develop coaches’ skills are worthy of research. In this context, the study aims to identify the training paths and profiles of the Special Olympics Portugal coach. It also aims to analyze the relationship between formal and non-formal learning in the profile and training of this type of coach. The research is descriptive and transversal regarding Special Olympics Portugal coaches, with the participation of 50 subjects. Two questionnaires were used, the Coaches’ Training Profile Questionnaire to determine the training routes, and the Coaches’ Orientation Questionnaire. The results show that the Special Olympics Portugal coaches have an academic background and a somewhat critical profile. It is imperative to build formal and non-formal learning contexts that focus on the theme of adapted sports, in order to allow the training of more qualified coaches, who are consequently more effective in their interventions with this type of athlete.

Tecnologia Assistiva e paraesporte: revisão da literatura / Assistive Technology and handisport: literature review

Introdução: O aumento de pessoas com deficiência nos esportes organizados acontece paralelamente ao avanço das políticas e Tecnologia Assistiva (TA), gerando benefícios sociais e qualidade de vida para os atletas. Entretanto, pouco se tem relatado na literatura sobre as tecnologias e suas peculiaridades na prática do paraesporte. Assim, este estudo teve como objetivo caracterizar e analisar a produção científica referente ao tema de TA no paraesporte e esporte adaptado. Método: Foi realizada a revisão de literatura nas bases de dados nacionais e internacionais, Pubmed, Cochrane, Bireme e Scielo, de 2000 a 2017, nos idiomas inglês e português, utilizando-se os descritores: traumatismos em atletas, pessoas com deficiência, equipamento de autoajuda, reabilitação. Resultados/Discussão: Foram encontrados 26 artigos científicos, sendo estes analisados quantitativa e qualitativamente, categorizados em estudos de TA relacionados: à lesão e ao desempenho, estudos de revisão de literatura e de validação de instrumentos. As tecnologias encontradas foram: muleta, órtese, protocolo para sistema de vigilância, questionário e cadeira de rodas. Os temas encontrados foram: a eficácia da tecnologia assistiva no esporte adaptado, a incidência de lesões no paraesporte e o desempenho no esporte adaptado, sem associar diretamente a tecnologia utilizada. A cadeira de rodas foi o dispositivo de TA predominante nos estudos, estando presente em 22 dos artigos. Conclusão: Os resultados apontaram uma lacuna nos relatos de uso de TA em esportes adaptados, comprovando a necessidade de estudos sobre o tema, principalmente no paraesporte como ocupação e o uso de TA, para propor melhorias nos dispositivos e seu uso em diversos esportes.AbstractIntroduction: The increase in the amount of people with disability in the adapted organized sports occurs side by side with the advance of new politics and Assistive Technologies (AT). However, there are few studies about these technologies and their particularities in parasports. Thus, this study aimed to characterize and analyze the scientific production related to the theme AT in parasport and in adapted sport. Method: was done a literature review in the national and international databases, such as: Pubmed, Cochrane, Bireme and Scielo, into 2000 and 2017, in the English and Portuguese languages, using the descriptors: athletic injuries, people with disabilities, assistive technology and rehabilitation. Results/Discussion: In total, 26 articles were analyzed in quality and quantity and we found the technologies in the following categories: injuries related to ATs, performance, literature review and instrument’s validation. The technologies mentioned were: crutch, bracing, protocol for surveillance system, questionnaire and wheelchair. They were discussed in the context of adapted sports, number of injuries and performance with no mention to the technology used. The wheelchair was the predominant AT, with mention in 22 articles. Conclusion: Therefore, this review indicates the need of more studies about the theme and, mainly in parasport as occupation and the use of a AT, to understand how to improve the existing technologies.Keywords: Persons with disabilities. Self-help devices. Sports for persons with disabilities. Occupational therapy. Social Participation.ResumenEl aumento de las personas con discapacidad en los deportes organizados ocurre paralelamente al avance de las políticas y Tecnologías Asistivas (TA), generando beneficios sociales y calidad de vida para los atletas. Sin embargo, poco se ha relatado en la literatura sobre las tecnologías y sus peculiaridades en la práctica del paradeporte. Así, este estudio tenía como objetivo caracterizar y analizar la producción científica relacionada con el tema de la TA en el deporte paraportado y adaptado. Para ello, se llevó a cabo una revisión de la literatura en bases de datos nacionales e internacionales, PubMed, Cochrane, Scielo Bireme y, de 2000 a 2017, en Inglés y portugués, usando las palabras clave: traumatismos en atletas, las personas con discapacidad, la tecnología de asistencia y rehabilitación. Se encontraron 26 artículos científicos, siendo estos analizados cuantitativa y cualitativamente, categorizados en estudios de TA relacionados: a la lesión y al desempeño, estudios de revisión de literatura y de validación de instrumentos. Las tecnologías encontradas fueron: muleta, órtesis, protocolo para sistema de vigilancia, cuestionario y silla de ruedas. Los temas encontrados fueron: la eficacia de la tecnología asistiva en el deporte adaptado, la incidencia de lesiones en el paraporte y el desempeño en el deporte adaptado, sin asociar directamente la tecnología utilizada. La silla de ruedas fue la TA predominante en los estudios, estando presente en 22 de los artículos. Los resultados apuntaron una laguna en los relatos de uso de TA en deportes adaptados, comprobando la necesidad de estúdios en el tema, principalmente en paraesprote como ocupación y el uso de AT, para proponer mejoras en los dispositivos y su uso en diversos deportesPalabras clave: Personas con discapacidad. Tecnología asistiva. Deporte para personas con discapacidad. Terapia ocupacional. Medicina de Rehabilitación. Participación social.

Actividades físicas–recreativas e inclusión: Una experiencia con adultos parapléjicos de la Asociación Asopléjica

The care of people with physical-motor limitations (paraplegics), given the variability of cases, etiologies, forms of classification, level of commitment and performance that occurs between one paraplegic person and another, make the inclusion processes continue to constitute a great challenge. In an observation carried out in the Asoplegic Association of the city of Guayaquil, it was detected that regardless of the programs that are developed, there are limitations for the practice of physical-recreational activities by the paraplegic adults that make up the association, negatively affecting their performance and social inclusion. The research that is presented aims to: Provide a system of physical-recreational activities conducive to the inclusion of paraplegic adults from the Asoplegic Association of Guayaquil to the practice of physical sports activities. A descriptive, non-experimental methodology was followed with the use of theoretical and empirical methods and the use of techniques such as the survey, achieving the results of providing a system of physical-recreational activities, composed of 4 blocks (Gymnastic Activities in Wheelchairs, Activities Wheelchair Adapted Sports, Wheelchair Adapted Recreational Activities, Wheelchair Dance Therapy). The assessment made by the evaluating specialists who agreed on the usefulness and benefits of the proposed activity system was very significant, considering it as a timely alternative to facilitate the processes of inclusion of paraplegic adults who are members of the Asoplegic Association.

Experiences Influencing Walking Football Initiation in 55- to 75-Year-Old Adults: A Qualitative Study

Adults aged 55 and older are least likely to play sport. Despite research suggesting this population experiences physical and psychological benefits when doing so, limited research focuses on older adult sport initiation, especially in “adapted sports” such as walking football. The aim of this study was to explore initiation experiences of walking football players between 55 and 75 years old. Semistructured interviews took place with 17 older adults playing walking football for 6 months minimum (Mage = 64). Inductive analysis revealed six higher order themes representing preinitiation influences. Eight further higher order themes were found, relating to positive and negative experiences during initiation. Fundamental influences preinitiation included previous sporting experiences and values and perceptions. Emergent positive experiences during initiation included mental development and social connections. Findings highlight important individual and social influences when initiating walking football, which should be considered when encouraging 55- to 75-year-old adults to play adapted sport. Policy and practice recommendations are discussed.