European Journal of Adapted Physical Activity - Latest articles
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The effect of attentional focus based on learning stages on motor learning in children with intellectual disabilities
Rasool Zeidabadi, Ensieh Sadat Askari Tabar, Morteza Pourazar
European Journal of Adapted Physical Activity 18, 3 (2025) | DOI: 10.5507/euj.2024.013 
The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of different focus of attention (Internal, External, and Mixed) instructions on the acquisition and learning of a throwing skill in children with intellectual disabilities. Thirty boys with intellectual disabilities (M = 12.1 SD = 1.42 years) with an intelligence quotient ranging between 50 and 69 participated in this study. All participants were randomly assigned to three groups (internal: focusing on the movements of their throwing hand, external: focusing on the movement of the beanbag, and mixed: focusing on the movement of their hand in the first half of training and focusing on the movement...
EUDAPA: Academic, social and employment assessment of an international programme
Ramiro Muñoz-Calvo, Saleky García-Gómez, Jyrki Vilhu, Javier Pérez-Tejero
European Journal of Adapted Physical Activity 18, 2 (2025) | DOI: 10.5507/euj.2024.015
The European Diploma in Adapted Physical Activity (EUDAPA) is an international program focused on the adapted physical activity (APA) field. Students and teachers come from different places around the world in order to share. The aim of this study was to assess the opinion of EUDAPA alumni about the influence of the programme in their applied APA professional knowledge, competences, skills, socialization, and future employment capability. An ad hoc questionnaire was developed from a proposed evaluation of those skills, which was assessed and validated through experts' opinion. Thereafter, the tool was sent by email to all of the 136 alumni who took...
The use of psychological skills in Deaflympic sport
Alon Markov-Glazer, Anne-Marie Elbe, Rainer Schliermann
European Journal of Adapted Physical Activity 17, 15 (2024) | DOI: 10.5507/euj.2024.012
This study explores the use of psychological skills among Deaflympic athletes and aims to provide initial insights into sport psychology practices in this overlooked population. To this end, the frequency of psychological skills’ usage, usage patterns, and differences between subgroups were examined within this population. The Test of Performance Strategies (TOPS) was administered to 84 German Deaflympic athletes (mean age = 28; 27% female) along with biographical questions (e.g., hearing status). The findings indicate that Deaflympic athletes regularly utilize psychological skills in training and competition, displaying similar usage to that...
Reflections from 50 shades of APA
Florentina Hettinga, Kwok Ng, Aija Klavina
European Journal of Adapted Physical Activity 17, 1 (2024) | DOI: 10.5507/euj.2024.017
This is a reflection on the ECSS symposium presentation at the ECSS 2024 congress.
“When We Dance It’s Never Just Dancing...”: Understanding the experiences and perspectives of adult dancers with neurodevelopmental disability.
Jacqueline C. Ladwig, Elena M. Broeckelmann, Kathryn M. Sibley, Jacquie Ripat, Cheryl M. Glazebrook
European Journal of Adapted Physical Activity 17, 14 (2024) | DOI: 10.5507/euj.2024.011
Dance is an activity that engages the physical, cognitive, and social dimensions of movement and health. Research in dance and disability is often focused on reducing symptoms and behaviours, rather than individual experiences. Using a constructionist lens, we explored the meaning of dance as shared through personal narratives from adult dancers who live with neurodevelopmental disability and aimed to deepen our understanding of their experiences and perspectives on instruction. Interviews were conducted with 14 dancers from across Canada and the United States. Through an iterative thematic analysis, we identified three main themes and contextualized...
Effects of a multicomponent exercise program on upper extremity strength, range of motion, cardiovascular endurance, and adherence in adults with spinal cord injury
Myeongjin Bae, Yongro Lee, Jooyeon Jin
European Journal of Adapted Physical Activity 17, 12 (2024) | DOI: 10.5507/euj.2024.009
This study aimed to examine upper extremity muscle strength, range of motion, and cardiovascular endurance in individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) with attention paid to accessibility in built structures and adapted equipment that can facilitate exercise attendance and adherence. Eighteen participants were randomly assigned to either the intervention (n = 9) or the control (n = 9) group. Intervention group participants performed the exercise program using adapted weight machines for 75 minutes per session, twice a week for 10 weeks. This study collected measures of feasibility and assessed muscle strength, range of motion, and cardiovascular endurance....
The Invictus Games Categorisation System: A framework for adapted sports
Helen Blamey, Janet Lawson, Celina H. Shirazipour
European Journal of Adapted Physical Activity 17, 13 (2024) | DOI: 10.5507/euj.2024.010
Categorisation (also called classification) systems are a fundamental part of adapted sports. While current systems seek to promote fair participation, they may also conversely prevent individuals experiencing diverse and complex physical and psychological illnesses and injuries from engaging in adapted sports. Drawing on the experiences and perspectives of stakeholders working with the Invictus Games Foundation, this paper describes the Invictus Games categorisation system, an innovative framework for non-elite adapted sport competition that seeks to integrate individuals experiencing these diverse conditions. We review (a) the development of the...
Physical activity barriers among adults with physical disabilities or chronic diseases during and after rehabilitation: the ReSpAct cohort study
Maaike Wildekamp, Leonie A. Krops, Bregje L. Seves, Florentina J. Hettinga, Han Houdijk, Rienk Dekker, Femke Hoekstra
European Journal of Adapted Physical Activity 17, 11 (2024) | DOI: 10.5507/euj.2024.008
Adults with physical disabilities or chronic diseases face numerous barriers to participate in physical activity (PA). There is little knowledge about how these PA barriers evolve during and after rehabilitation, and how this relates to PA behaviour. In this study, we investigated how perceived PA barriers change over time for adults with physical disabilities or chronic diseases during and after rehabilitation, and their associations with PA behaviour. A total of 1,065 individuals from the longitudinal cohort study Rehabilitation, Sports, and Active Lifestyle (ReSpAct) were examined at various time points from baseline to 52 weeks post-rehabilitation....
Perspectives of students with intellectual disabilities on Inclusive Physical Education in Germany
Matthias Zimlich, Christiane Reuter
European Journal of Adapted Physical Activity 17, 9 (2024) | DOI: 10.5507/euj.2024.006
The perspectives of students are considered an essential aspect for a successful inclusive Physical Education (PE). However, the voices of students with intellectual disability (SIDs) have hardly been heard so far. This qualitative study conducted semi-structured interviews with 17 SIDs in two cooperative PE settings and analysed them by using thematic analysis. From the results, the perspectives are equivocal and seem strongly to depend on the school setting, which comprises teachers, students without disabilities (SWDs) and the school environment and thus support the bio-psychosocial model of disability. From the findings, we also show that physical...
Navigating middle school physical education with a physical disability: Personal experiences and challenges
Candace Brink, Martin Block
European Journal of Adapted Physical Activity 17, 8 (2024) | DOI: 10.5507/euj.2024.005
This study uses a social justice model, to explore the lived experiences of people with physical disabilities during their general physical education classes in middle school. In this qualitative study, the authors conducted semi-structured interviews with 10 participants to develop themes from participants’ experiences through a social justice lens (equality, equity, participation, justice). Description and narrative are presented from the five central themes that developed from the interviews: a.) favouritism of athletes; b.) did not ask my opinion; c.) treated me like I had an intellectual disability; d.) did not know how to deal with me;...
Fear of mistakes: Physical education and activity experiences of autistic teenagers
Cam Lesslie, A. Josephine Blagrave
European Journal of Adapted Physical Activity 17, 5 (2024) | DOI: 10.5507/euj.2024.002
Individuals on the autism spectrum can have behavioral, physical, and social difficulties. This can limit their participation in physical education, which reduces the physical, social, and psychological benefits received from physical activity. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the physical education and physical activity experiences of students on the autism spectrum aged 13–18 years old. One time, semi structured interviews were conducted on nine participants recruited from schools in Northern California to explore their experiences in PE and PA. Two themes emerged from the participants: (a) interpersonal influences, which...
Online training on inclusive physical education: differences in self-efficacy and attitudes of pre-service pe teachers across disability and activity
Yeshayahu Hutzler, Hila Beck, Bari Reichman, Aviva Goral
European Journal of Adapted Physical Activity 17, 7 (2024) | DOI: 10.5507/euj.2024.004
Online education is increasingly implemented in educational programs. This study aimed to explore the differences before and after an online course on self-efficacy (SE) and attitudes of physical education students towards including children with disabilities in their classes across five categories of disability and three categories of activity context. An online survey was completed pre-course and post-course by 171 (92 females) physical education teacher education (PETE) students, to evaluate their attitudes as well as SE in situational-specific contexts, including fitness training, skill learning, and game participation. The five-question survey...
EUCAPA 2024 - Book of Abstracts
EUCAPA
European Journal of Adapted Physical Activity 17, 10 (2024) | DOI: 10.5507/euj.2024.007
European Congress of Adapted Physical Activity 2024, Seville, Spain. Book of abstracts.
Validity and reliability of field tests to assess performance of wheelchair rugby athletes: A preliminary study
Sonja De Groot, Laurie A. Malone, Susan R. Wilbanks, Thomas W. J. Janssen, C. Scott Bickel
European Journal of Adapted Physical Activity 17, 6 (2024) | DOI: 10.5507/euj.2024.003
Quality field tests of athletic performance are important tools for coaches and athletes to evaluate athlete capabilities and changes over time. Current field tests for wheelchair rugby have not been well evaluated. The purpose of this study was to examine the validity and reliability of five wheelchair rugby field tests (ball passing, two sprint tests, two agility tests). Wheelchair rugby players (n = 12) performed the field tests on 2 occasions, separated by 2 weeks, and performed a maximal isokinetic upper-extremity strength test (shoulder flexors and extensors). Spearman correlation was used to examine the relationship among the different field...
The association between the constructs of social cognitive theory and physical activity in adults with disabilities: A meta-analysis
Byungmo Ku, Willie Leung
European Journal of Adapted Physical Activity 17, 3 (2024) | DOI: 10.5507/euj.2023.010
With the inconsistency regarding the association between the constructs of social cognitive theory (SCT) and physical activity (PA) in adults with disabilities, the purpose of the current study was twofold: a) to examine the association between constructs of SCT and PA in adults with disabilities using meta-analysis procedures, and b) to identify moderators for the association between the SCT constructs and PA among adults with disabilities. With predetermined inclusion criteria, a total of 15 studies were included in the current review. The pooled associations under the random-effect model between SCT variables and PA in adults with disabilities were...
Exploring Quality Participation through Dance Movement Therapy for Parkinson’s Disease
Celina H. Shirazipour, Elizabeth Eichler, Parissa Safai, Rebecca L. Bassett-Gunter
European Journal of Adapted Physical Activity 17, 4 (2024) | DOI: 10.5507/euj.2024.001
The purpose of this study was to explore the utility of the six quality participation (QP) elements developed for physical activity programs for individuals with disability (autonomy, belongingness, challenge, engagement, mastery and meaning) within the context of dance movement therapy for individuals with Parkinson’s Disease. This is a single-case study with semi-structured interviews that involved eight participants (six women and two men) from a dance movement therapy program for individuals with Parkinson’s Disease, to explore participants’ experiences within the context of the QP elements. Data were analyzed using reflexive...
Elite performance in para-cycling: A scoping review
Albert Smit, Ina Janssen, Florentina J. Hettinga, Jos J. de Koning, Mathijs J. Hofmijster, Thomas W. J. Janssen
European Journal of Adapted Physical Activity 17, 2 (2024) | DOI: 10.5507/euj.2023.009
Elite para-cycling needs an overview of relevant and valid research to better understand and improve performance and to develop the sport, using evidence-based decision making. The aim of this scoping review was to 1) provide a research overview of performance and performance determining factors in elite para-cycling to aid coaches and elite athletes, and 2) highlight the gaps in the literature. Four databases (PubMed, SportDiscus, Scopus and MEDLINE) were systematically searched for studies on para-cycling performance and performance factors and 68 relevant studies were identified. Using a conceptual framework based on a power balance model, most...
Disability and physical activity perspectives of Hmong mothers who have a child with a disability
Jenifer Yang, Josephine A. Blagrave
European Journal of Adapted Physical Activity 16, 15 (2023) | DOI: 10.5507/euj.2023.007
Even though Hmong people have a unique history and culture, they are often overlooked and lumped together with other Asian American groups within the United States. Their experiences are rarely examined in depth, particularly when it comes to Hmong families with children who have disabilities. As the number of disabilities among racial and ethnic groups has grown, the services available to and research conducted about a few of those communities, such as the Hmong people, have been insufficient. Traditionally, Hmong people are active with their daily routines such as hunting and farming. Purposeful physical activity like joining a recreational sport...
Monitoring oxygen uptake, blood lactate and heart rate in swimmers with impairments: A systematic review
Wellington G. Feitosa, Ricardo de A. Correia, Tiago M. Barbosa, Flávio A. de S. Castro
European Journal of Adapted Physical Activity 16, 16 (2023) | DOI: 10.5507/euj.2023.008
Physiological parameters give an indication of the potential swimming performance. Studies regarding swimmers with impairments which gather information on physiological parameters are scarce. The aim of this study was to summarize the results of studies involving oxygen uptake, blood lactate and heart rate in swimming protocols for swimmers with physical impairments. A comprehensive search of the literature was performed on PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science and EBSCO for complete studies between database inception and May 22nd, 2023. Ten studies (n = 142) fulfilled the inclusion criteria (including swimmers with physical impairments that monitor oxygen...
Difference in balance capacity for Special Olympics athletes and non-athletes with intellectual disabilities
Sanna Fjellström, Johanna Oskarsson, Elisabeth Hansen, Anna Nordström, Marie Lund Ohlsson
European Journal of Adapted Physical Activity 16, 14 (2023) | DOI: 10.5507/euj.2023.005
Fall incidents are a significant health problem for people with intellectual disabilities (ID) and physical activity improves balance capacity and can prevent the risk of falling. The Special Olympics Healthy Athletes® offers health screenings and education to athletes with ID. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to explore whether Special Olympics athletes have better balance capacity than non-athletes with ID. During the Special Olympics Sweden Invitational Games 2020, athletes and non-athletes participated in the Healthy Athletes programme. The results of athletes (n=47) and non-athletes (n=25) for balance tests (i.e. single leg stance,...
Perceptions of patients with psychosis on living an active lifestyle
Marte Bentzen, Ida Jarstadmarken, Gro Rugseth
European Journal of Adapted Physical Activity 16, 13 (2023) | DOI: 10.5507/euj.2023.006
The aim of the study was to gain insights into how people living with psychosis at a psychiatric hospital describe what living an active lifestyle means for them. Interpretative phenomenological analysis was used to guide the methodology. The study involved three participants diagnosed with psychotic disorder living at an institution offering long-term in-patient treatment. Semi-structured interviews were conducted, including inviting participants to ‘walking-by-talking’ and to bring photos representing their notions of an active lifestyle to enhance the richness of the data and increase participants’ agency. All participants talked...
Children with neurodevelopmental disorder participating in an intervention –physical activity on prescription (PAP): parent’s reasoning about their children’s participation in sport.
Lars Kristén, Maria Nyholm, Marie Lydell
European Journal of Adapted Physical Activity 16, 12 (2023) | DOI: 10.5507/euj.2022.009
Children with disabilities engage less in physical activity and sports during their spare time compared to their peers without disabilities. Modern sports, contextual factors, and parents’ fear of discrimination have been discussed as barriers to participation. The aim of this study is to describe parents’ experiences of their child with neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD) participating in a PAP intervention. The intervention involved a Child and Adolescent Psychiatry outpatient clinic (CAP), the Regional Sport Federation, and local sport clubs in the southwestern region of Sweden. A sample of 13 parents took part in semi-structured interviews,...
Dynamics of courage: Personal learning processes in an adapted physical activity- based rehabilitation context, a single case study
Mette Miklos, Reidun Jahnsen, Astrid Nyquist, Halvor Hanisch
European Journal of Adapted Physical Activity 16, 9 (2023) | DOI: 10.5507/euj.2023.001
Learning processes require individuals to find the courage to engage in challenging activities. While being highly personal, such processes always occur within a relational social system. Rehabilitation programs with adapted physical activity as the main intervention facilitate opportunities for young adults with the experience of living with a disability to explore their capacities and develop activity competence and agency. This study aims to explore the dynamic relationship between personal experiences and the social processes underpinning a learning process within a rehabilitation program based on adapted physical activity in groups. An ethnographic...
Early motor skill interventions for children with autism; secondary effects on parents and families
Leanne K. Elliott, Jonathan A. Weiss, Meghann Lloyd
European Journal of Adapted Physical Activity 16, 10 (2023) | DOI: 10.5507/euj.2023.003
Motor skill interventions can improve the motor proficiency of children with autism, however, the secondary effects associated with these interventions are not well understood. The aim of this study is to describe 1) parents’ experiences with an early motor skill intervention for their children with autism, and 2) the secondary effects of the intervention on parents and families. Parents (n = 8) of four-year-old children with autism who participated in a 12-week motor skill intervention were invited to take part in a semi-structured interview to discuss their experiences. The study was grounded in descriptive phenomenology. Three themes emerged...
Effects of a school-based integrative neuromuscular training exercise intervention on physical fitness among children with autism spectrum disorder
Craig Coffey, Damien Sheehan, Avery D. Faigenbaum, Sean Healy, Rhodri S Lloyd, Sharon Kinsella
European Journal of Adapted Physical Activity 16, 11 (2023) | DOI: 10.5507/euj.2023.004
The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of an eight-week, school-based integrative neuromuscular training (INT) intervention on the fitness levels of seventy-eight, 4-12-year-old children with mild, moderate, or severe symptoms of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Children participated in an INT intervention, consisting of three, one-hour sessions per week. Physical fitness was assessed pre-and post-intervention using a modified Eurofit test battery and analysed using a 3x2 ANOVA. This INT intervention resulted in significant improvements of physical fitness (p < .05) pre- to post-intervention (20 m sprint [p = .044], standing broad jump,...
Quality of reporting on physical activity content and teaching perspective. A scoping review on children with autism.
Anette Bentholm, Daniel Ramskov
European Journal of Adapted Physical Activity 16, 8 (2023) | DOI: 10.5507/euj.2022.014
The objective of this scoping review was to provide an overview of the variety and characteristics of publications on physical activity (PA) in studies including children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and to evaluate the quality of the available information on PA content and description of teaching. This is important because completeness of intervention reporting holds great value for practitioners, patients, community leaders, and policymakers. The following research questions were answered (i) How is the PA content description completeness according to the 12 items in the Template for Intervention Description and Replication (TIDIeR)...
The European Journal of Adapted Physical Activity (EUJAPA) on its 16th volume – Editor-in-Chief farewell and welcome
Pauli Rintala, Kwok Ng, Florentina Hettinga
European Journal of Adapted Physical Activity 16, 1 (2023) | DOI: 10.5507/euj.2023.002
Editorial for outgoing and incoming Editor-in-Chief of European Journal of Adapted Physical Activity, 2023
Using a university service-learning program to explore the experiences of older adult participants with physical disabilities
Gardenia Juarez, Josephine Blagrave, Luciana Zuest, Kevin Patton
European Journal of Adapted Physical Activity 16, 6 (2023) | DOI: 10.5507/euj.2022.010
Researchers have investigated older adults without physical disabilities in various physical activity (PA) programs. However, few studies have focused on older adults with physical disabilities. To the authors’ knowledge, no studies have explored the experiences of this population in a university service-learning program. To that end, the purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of older adults with physical disabilities in a physical activity university service-learning program. A qualitative research design was used to explore the experiences of six adults with physical disabilities using open-ended interviews, program observations,...
Effect of a motor behavior course on kinesiology students’ attitudes toward disability: A quasi-experimental study.
Samuel W. Logan, Layne Case, Kathleen R. Bogart, Erica Woekel
European Journal of Adapted Physical Activity 16, 5 (2023) | DOI: 10.5507/euj.2022.016
This quasi-experimental study used a nonrandomized, control group pre-test post-test research design to determine the effect of a motor behavior course with a social justice perspective on undergraduate students’ attitudes toward people with disabilities, alignment with the medical and social models of disability, and mobility beliefs. Undergraduate students enrolled at a public university (n=714) completed survey measures before and after participation in a 10-week course. Intervention group participants (n=357) were drawn from a required course for Kinesiology students that included social justice topics and video-based contact with people...
Differences in Special Olympics athletes and non-athletes with intellectual disability: physical activity, strength and aerobic fitness
Johanna Oskarsson, Sanna Fjellström, Elisabeth Hansen, Marie Ohlsson
European Journal of Adapted Physical Activity 16, 7 (2023) | DOI: 10.5507/euj.2022.015
Adults with intellectual disability (ID) have higher degree of sedentary lifestyle and participate in physical activity less compared to the general population. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to analyse if participation in Special Olympics increase the level of physical activity (PA) and influence physical health aspects such as BMI, muscular strength and aerobic fitness for people with ID. Data were analysed from the Special Olympics Sweden Invitational Games 2020, on athletes (n=38) and non-athletes with ID (n=20), of strength (partial sit-up-, seated push-up-, handgrip- and timed sit to stand test), aerobic fitness (2 min step up test),...