Physical Activity and Psychophysical Well-Being of Children With Disabilities and Their Families – A Systematic Review

Abstract

The goal of this paper is to examine the state of current research and the interests of researchers all over the world regarding the relationship between physical activity and psychophysical wellbeing (mental and physical health) of children with various types of disability in the context of physical activity in the family. A systematic literature research was conducted using the Cochrane Library, EBSCO, PsycInfo and PubMed databases. Available research articles published between 2010–2020 were searched for using the following keywords: motor disability, physical activity, child with motor disability, physical activity and disability, disabled child, psychophysical well-being, family, physical activity in the family. The goal was to find studies concerning children and adolescents aged 0–19 whose main disability was a motor disability. The available literature describes the positive influence of physical activity on children with cerebral palsy, motor deficits, and neurodevelopmental disorders. In the last decade (2010–2020) levels of intensity of physical activity have been measured with accelerometry using wearable equipment such as ActivHearts, ActiGraph and StepWatch, as well as the MVPA index. Physical activity is beneficial for children with different types and levels of disability, and it influences their families. It is necessary to support, promote, and educate families as well as their children with disabilities about physical activity.