Physical Activity and Sports Participation among Children and Adolescents with Disabilities

Dubon, Mary E.; Tow, Stephanie; Rabatin, Amy E.

doi:10.1016/j.pcl.2023.01.009

Cited by 2 publications

References 11 publications

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Unleashing potential: Boosting physical activity in children with developmental disabilities via a family-dog-assisted intervention

Darling,

Wanser,

Jiang

et al. 2024

Human-Animal Interactions

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In the context of a global crisis, where over 80% of children fail to meet minimum standards of physical activity, children with developmental disabilities may face an even greater health disparity. Despite being disproportionately less physically active than the broader population, those with developmental disabilities are often excluded from mainstream interventions. This study evaluated a novel animal-assisted intervention (AAI) that incorporated the family pet dog, with the goal of increasing physical activity in children with developmental disabilities. The intervention involved teaching child participants to engage in “Do as I Do” (DAID) reciprocal-imitation training with their dog over ten 60-min sessions. After enrollment, 45 child-dog pairs of children and their family dogs were randomly assigned to either the experimental intervention (DAID) group, the active control group (dog walking control [DWC]), or the passive control group (waitlist control [WC]). Physical activity was measured using a 7-day ActiGraph accelerometer monitoring process, and data were analyzed for children who wore the accelerometer for a minimum of 4 days at both assessment time points (N = 14). Participation in the intervention (DAID) group was found to significantly increase moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) by 1.2 min/h ( p = 0.0087; Cohen’s d = 1.7) and significantly reduce sedentary behavior by 4.03 min/h ( p = 0.027; d = 1.3), outperforming the waitlist control group. Our findings demonstrate the potential of this novel dog-assisted intervention to improve physical activity in this population, thereby contributing to a reduction in health disparities.

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Unleashing potential: Boosting physical activity in children with developmental disabilities via a family-dog-assisted intervention

Darling,

Wanser,

Jiang

et al. 2024

Human-Animal Interactions

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Feasibility study of a novel co-designed online training program for circus coaches working with preschool-aged children born preterm

Coulston

Toovey

Sellick

et al. 2023

Preprint

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Purpose: Providing specialised training to community-based physical activity instructors (such as circus coaches) has been identified as a potential strategy to increase participation for preschool-aged children born preterm. The objective of this study was to determine the feasibility of a novel co-designed training program CirqAll: professional development for circus coaches (CirqAll:PD), which aimed to increase coaches knowledge, skills, and confidence in working with children born preterm. Materials and methods: CirqAll:PD consisted of 10-hours of online self-directed content and four 90-minute online workshops completed over four weeks. Recruitment capability, acceptability, implementation fidelity and limited efficacy testing were evaluated using a case series design. Results: Fifty-one circus coaches were enrolled, and 27 completed CirqAll:PD. Reasons for attrition were primarily related to the Theoretical Framework of Acceptability s (TFA) concept of burden. All 27 coaches indicated that CirqAll:PD was acceptable (TFA questionnaire). Overall intervention fidelity was high (high adherence to planned delivery, moderate adherence to dosage, and excellent participant responsiveness). Limited efficacy testing revealed positive trends regarding coaches knowledge, skills, and confidence (Determinants of Implementation Behaviour Questionnaire). Conclusions: These results support the feasibility of CirqAll:PD. Adaptations to reduce attrition and burden on participants are required prior to further testing.

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Physical Activity and Sports Participation among Children and Adolescents with Disabilities

Cited by 2 publications

References 11 publications

Unleashing potential: Boosting physical activity in children with developmental disabilities via a family-dog-assisted intervention

Unleashing potential: Boosting physical activity in children with developmental disabilities via a family-dog-assisted intervention

Feasibility study of a novel co-designed online training program for circus coaches working with preschool-aged children born preterm

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