This study aims to examine the effects of an adapted physical activity on focused attention in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). In this study, an adapted physical activity was planned for children who have ASD by using a multiple baseline design across skills, one of the single-subject designs., The program was taught via the most-to-least prompting, and its effects on focused attention skills of children with ASD were examined before and after the training. Three students with ASD participated in the study. Data collection tools included a data collection form, and the Bourdon attention test to determine baseline level, probe, instruction, maintenance, and generalization sessions in the study. Tau-U analysis results indicated a large and statistically significant effect of the intervention across all target behaviors. In conclusion, children with ASD should be more involved in adapted physical activity in public schools.
Physical literacy (PL) is increasingly positioned as a foundation for lifelong engagement in movement and physical activity, yet less is known about how it is enacted inclusively within disability-focused community contexts. This study explored how three Canadian community-based adapted physical activity organizations operationalized PL through inclusion-oriented practice. Guided by a Communities of Practice conceptual framework and an interpretive multiple case study design, data were generated through semistructured interviews and one practitioner focus group, alongside supplementary data sources such as field observations, organizational documents, photographs, and reflexive field notes. Fifty-one participants were involved across cases, including administrators, practitioners, program participants, and parents. Cross-case thematic analysis identified three interrelated pillars shaping inclusion-oriented PL practice: environmental compatibility, intentional programming, and ethical practice. Across cases, inclusion was not understood as a fixed property of a setting but as a relational and context-sensitive process requiring ongoing adaptation of environments, pedagogies, and organizational cultures in response to participant needs, aspirations, and embodied ways of moving. The findings offer a cross-case framework of idealizations for community-based adapted physical activity programming and clarify how PL can be advanced in disability-focused contexts without reducing inclusion to access alone, accommodation alone, or normative expectations of movement competence.
The aim is to evaluate the potential association between adapted sport practice and psycho-emotional functioning in adults with physical disabilities. A comparative, cross-sectional, and correlational nonexperimental study was conducted with 181 adults with physical disabilities (94 practicing adapted sport and 87 not practicing). Between-group comparisons were conducted for depression and anxiety symptoms, stress, self-esteem, self-efficacy, social skills, mindfulness, and resilience. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses were also performed for each psycho-emotional variable, adjusting for percentage of disability, age, and sex and adding adapted sport practice in the second block. Significant differences were observed between groups in depression (p = .009), stress (p = .012), self-efficacy (p = .009), mindfulness (p = .009), mindfulness in physical activity (p = .012), and resilience (p = .020). These findings suggest that adapted sport practice is associated with several psycho-emotional indicators in adults with physical disabilities. However, the cross-sectional design does not allow for causal inferences, and longitudinal studies are needed to clarify the direction of these associations.
This study aimed to examine the effects of parent-child coparticipation in physical activity (PA) on the PA levels and fundamental motor skills (FMSs) of children with autism spectrum disorder. Participants were assigned to one of the following three groups: (a) a parent-child group (n = 14), (b) a child group (n = 13), and (c) a control group (n = 13). After 8 weeks of intervention, the within-group comparison revealed a significant increase in PA levels and FMSs in children with autism spectrum disorder in the parent-child group and the child group (p < .001). The between-group comparison further showed that children in the parent-child group had statistically higher scores for PA levels and FMSs than children in the child and control groups (p < .001). These findings suggest that parent-child coparticipation in PA may be a promising component of family-based interventions to promote PA and facilitate the acquisition of FMSs among children with autism spectrum disorder.
Para athletics is a major Paralympic discipline based on a classification system that minimizes the impact of impairments on performance. This study examines sprint performance differences in ambulant para athletes with coordination impairments (spastic hypertonia, ataxia, dystonia) across 100- and 200-m events by sex, sport class (T35-T38), and competition level. Performance data from Olympic athletes were included as a control group to contextualize the magnitude of differences relevant to the identification of minimal impairment criteria. Data included 5,681 performance observations from 1,130 unique para athletes across Paralympic Games, World Championships, and international competitions. Men consistently outperformed women across all classes and events. Performance varied by sport class, with no significant differences between T35 versus T36 and T37 versus T38 in some elite competitions. Olympic athletes outperformed para athletes in all comparisons. Findings reveal that sex, sport class, and competition level significantly influence performance, though overlaps between adjacent classes persist. These results highlight the need for further investigation into classification boundaries and their relationship to performance disparities in elite para sport.
The quality parasport participation framework proposes that features of the physical, program, and social environments (i.e., foundational strategies) foster quality participation that supports positive psychosocial outcomes. We examined whether features of these environments predict quality participation as well as relationships between specific foundational strategies and quality participation. Adults with physical impairment/s (n = 270) involved in parasport completed measures of the extent to which they experienced quality parasport participation and 16 environmental features consistent with foundational strategies for fostering quality parasport participation. Forced entry hierarchical multiple regression models were computed for each environment. After controlling for covariates, the physical environment model explained 18.4% of variance in quality participation (medium-sized effect), the program environment model explained 22.3% (medium-sized effect), and the social environment model explained 33.3% (large-sized effect) (ps < .001). This study provides support for the quality parasport participation framework and direction for program leaders to use quality parasport participation framework strategies to foster quality participation in parasport.
This study was conducted to examine the feasibility and potential efficacy of an adapted judo program for adolescents with intellectual disability using a pragmatic multicenter controlled design. A total of 127 participants (15.2 ± 4.16 years) from six European countries were allocated to an experimental (n = 104) or control group (n = 23), primarily at school or classroom level, with partial nonrandom assignment due to practical constraints. The experimental group completed two 60-min sessions per week over one school year, while controls maintained usual activities. Feasibility was assessed through attendance and stakeholder ratings. Outcomes included physical fitness variables and quality of life (KidsLife), analyzed using adjusted linear mixed models. Participation and completion exceeded 80%, with minimal adverse events and high feasibility ratings. Significant Group × Time interactions (p < .001) indicated greater improvements in the experimental group, with large effect sizes (d = 1.15-1.31).
People with moderate to profound disability experience participate in low levels of physical activity (PA), negatively impacting their overall health and well-being. This project aimed to adapt our best practice model for PA promotion among people with disability for use by community Allied Health Professionals (AHPs) to increase PA participation among clients with moderate to profound disabilities. Four people with lived experience of moderate to profound disability and 12 AHPs participated in eight co-design workshops. All workshops were audio recorded and analyzed using a rapid data analysis approach utilizing inductive content analysis. Through the co-design process, several modifications were made to support its implementation with people with moderate to profound disability. Key modifications included (a) greater flexibility with the duration of program and session delivery, (b) a focus on social networks to support PA participation post program, (c) more support for AHPs to effectively implement behavior change strategies, and (d) broader goals beyond leisure-time PA goals. Application of the co-design process resulted in the development of a PA promotion program that can be delivered by community AHPs, tailored to the needs of people with moderate to profound disability. Recommendations are provided to support the implementation of the program within the community.
Indigenous multisport events (MSEs) represent important cultural spaces, with many Indigenous Peoples sharing the opportunities that these events provide to gather, demonstrate sport excellence, and share their cultures. Within the available perspectives on MSE, Indigenous Peoples who experience disability are not represented. We thus examined the contributions to and perspectives on Indigenous MSEs of Indigenous Peoples who experience disability. Using intersectional theory, qualitative description, and Indigenous methodologies, we conducted six semistructured interviews with Indigenous Peoples who experience disability and whose subjectivities are shaped by varied experiences, including those of gender, age, income, family, and culture. We constructed three themes using reflexive thematic analysis: (a) feeling ready/open to contribute to Indigenous MSEs, (b) cultivating an Indigenous disability presence at Indigenous MSEs, and (c) Indigenous disability advocacy in conversation with Indigenous MSEs. These findings promote the visibility of Indigenous Peoples who experience disability and join dialogues related to Indigenous sport and disability justice.
This article explores the tensions between adaptation and normalization in adapted physical activity (APA) for young autistic people in specialized institutions. Based on participant observations of APA sessions and interviews with educators conducted in two specialized medicosocial settings in southern France, the study examines how participation is negotiated in practice. It highlights how strict behavioral rules and time constraints can hinder participation and lead to disengagement or so-called "challenging behaviors." Drawing on crip theory and the neurodiversity paradigm, the analysis reveals how normative expectations shape inclusive practices, sometimes reinforcing ableist assumptions. The authors argue that current APA models often misalign with the embodied experiences and rhythms of autistic youth. However, some practices-such as breaks, individualized adaptations, and attention to individual tempos-can foster engagement and well-being. The study calls for a critical rethinking of APA inclusion strategies, advocating for approaches that center on enjoyment and the recognition of diverse ways of being rather than on behavioral compliance or normalization.
The aim of this study was to determine the relationships between physical activity (PA) and fitness and mental health in persons with spinal cord injury (PwSCI) living with chronic pain. This cross-sectional baseline data analysis included n = 43 people PwSCI ≥ 18 years reporting chronic pain. We administered the Satisfaction with Life Scale, EuroQol anxiety/depression, ICEpop CAPability Measure for Adults (ICECAP-A) enjoyment and pleasure and achievement and progress, Spinal Cord Injury Quality of Life Satisfaction with Social Roles and Activities scale, Leisure-Time PA Questionnaire for PwSCI, the 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey, and an arm-crank fitness test. Hierarchical multiple regressions, controlling for age, gender, injury level, fatigue, and pain, revealed that moderate to vigorous PA and fitness explained variance in enjoyment and pleasure (ΔR2 = .133, R2 = .344, p = .002), anxiety/depression (ΔR2 = .125, R2 = .258, p = .023), Satisfaction with Life Scale (ΔR2 = .036, R2 = .240, p = .030), achievement and progress (ΔR2 = .084, R2 = .260, p = .020), and Satisfaction with Social Roles and Activities (ΔR2 = .074, R2 = .444, p = .005). Future studies should test whether interventions that increase PA and fitness improve mental health in PwSCI living with chronic pain.
This randomized controlled trial investigated the effects of an 8-week neuromuscular warm-up program on dynamic balance, reaction time (RT), and knee joint proprioception in 24 elite Iranian Para-taekwondo athletes (K44 class). Participants were randomly assigned to an intervention group (n = 12), performing the martial arts striking sports (MASS-12) protocol (three sessions/week, 20 min/session), or a control group (n = 12), following routine warm-ups. Outcome measures included dynamic balance (Biodex Balance System), knee proprioception at 30° and 70° (joint position reproduction), and visual RT. A 2 × 2 mixed repeated-measures analysis of variance revealed significant Group × Time interactions for dynamic balance (p = .001, η2 = .19, d = 1.06) and RT (p = .03, η2 = .22, d = 0.94). The intervention group showed significant within-group improvements in dynamic balance (p = .001), RT (p = .02), and proprioception at 30° (p = .01, d = 1.20) and 70° (p = .04, d = 1.30), with no significant changes in the control group. Between-group differences at posttest were significant for dynamic balance (p = .04) and RT (p = .03). These findings suggest that the MASS-12 neuromuscular warm-up enhances key functional indicators, potentially reducing injury risk in Para-taekwondo athletes. Implications for adapted physical activity practitioners include integrating this low-cost, feasible protocol into training regimens to optimize performance and safety.
Despite the established benefits of physical activity, adults with disabilities experience significant disparities in participation. Exercise professionals are uniquely positioned to play a role in bridging this gap, making an understanding of their experiences critical. This qualitative study explored the perceived barriers and facilitators for Qualified Exercise Professionals in Italy when delivering programs for adults with disabilities. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 22 experienced Qualified Exercise Professionals and analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. Findings revealed three interconnected challenges: systemic constraints, including prohibitive costs and inaccessible facilities; a profound gap between theoretical education and practical demands, fuelling a fear of causing harm; and the unrecognized emotional labor of client advocacy. The therapeutic alliance emerged as the single most important facilitator. These results underscore an urgent need for educational reform, incorporating mandatory practical placements to build professional confidence, and for policy changes to dismantle the structural barriers that inhibit participation.
Evidence-based Paralympic classification must limit impairment-related advantages. World Shooting Para Sport classification, based on manual muscle testing, has never been empirically validated. We assessed structural validity using unsupervised machine learning on retrospective data from 176 Para Trap athletes spanning 2017-2025. Z-standardized composites captured upper limb, lower limb and trunk strength, plus trunk stability. K-means clustering, with k selected via elbow and silhouette methods, was compared with official classes using accuracy and information-based metrics. The best four-cluster solution achieved accuracy above 80% and moderate agreement, matching SG-U (Shotgun Upper) and SG-L (Shotgun Lower), but dividing SG-S (Shotgun Sitting) into two distinct groups exposing within-class heterogeneity. Upper limb strength was the main discriminator, followed by trunk stability and lower limb strength. Overall, data-driven clusters largely support existing structure while revealing overlap between SG-L and SG-U and heterogeneity within SG-S, suggesting that multivariate measures contribute to evidence supporting refinement of eligibility thresholds and enhance equity, aligning revisions with The International Paralympic Committee standards.
For children with an intellectual and developmental disability (IDD), meaningful inclusion in recreational sport can lead to many physical and psychosocial benefits. Investigators have begun to explore how recreational sport programs should be designed, implemented, and evaluated to promote these valued outcomes. Despite advancements in adapted sport research, sport program leaders are not always equipped with the strategies and tools to meet the participation needs and priorities of children with IDD. Our team partnered with management at Special Olympics Canada to encourage evidence-based sport program leadership and programming across Canada for young athletes with IDD. We employed a multiphased integrated knowledge translation approach to mobilize quality participation evidence through practical tools for sport program leaders. By elucidating our process, we aim to inspire future initiatives geared toward translating knowledge into action in the adapted sport context for young athletes with IDD across Canada and beyond.
Unified Sports within Special Olympics aims to promote inclusion, where athletes with intellectual and developmental disabilities train and compete together with partners who do not have a disability. However, little is known about the health-related physical fitness (HrPF) of these athletes and partners. The primary objective of this study was to describe the HrPF of participants in the 2022 Unified Cup. Measures of HrPF were collected during Healthy Athletes Screenings from 201 soccer players, including 106 athletes and 95 partners. Notable differences were observed between athletes and partners in calf flexibility, timed sit-to-stand, and partial sit-up measures of HrPF (p < .001). In addition, hamstring flexibility and seated push-up showed notable differences between genders (p < .001). This study adds to the literature by utilizing the Healthy Athletes Screenings database. Results should be considered by coaches and programmers when working with Unified athletes in competitive settings.
The purpose of this study was to explore the learning and mentoring experiences of Canadian Special Olympics coaches. Data were collected using semistructured individual interviews with eight Special Olympics coaches of varying levels of experience, sport type, and geographic locations across Canada. Using a reflexive thematic analysis, we found that coaches used a variety of formal, nonformal, and informal learning opportunities to develop and refine their coaching practices and particularly desired an opportunity to learn experientially and in a practical, hands-on manner. All coaches had experience with mentorship, either provided or received, and felt that opportunities for formal mentorship, such as exposure to national and international Games, would allow coaches to acquire the confidence, motivation, and knowledge needed to provide high-quality coaching to their athletes. Recommendations are identified to refine and improve the quality of coach education available to Special Olympics coaches, not only within Canada, but around the world.
The aim was to analyze the impact of recent Para Judo rule modifications on the temporal structure of combat in elite male judo athletes with visual impairment, considering new sport classes (J1, J2) and weight categories. An observational study analyzed 205 matches from the 2022 International Blind Sports Federation Judo World Championships using the Observed Temporal System for Judo Combat v.2 instrument. Significant differences emerged between sport classes: J1 combats were less fragmented, with longer pauses, groundwork, displacement, and gripping times poststoppage. J2 combats were more fragmented, involving shorter, dynamic sequences. Heavier Para Judo athletes (-90 kg, +90 kg) showed longer standing sequences, pauses, and gripping durations, indicating deliberate recovery strategies. Across all weights, J1 Para Judo athletes experienced longer pauses, reflecting greater temporal demands from total blindness. Results validate the competitive separation of J1 and J2 and emphasize tailored training strategies according to sport class and weight category. Specific temporal structure models support individualized Para Judo training planning.
