European Journal of Adapted Physical Activity, 2017 (vol. 10), issue 1
Fundamental motor skills in the first year of school: Associations with prematurity and disability
Viviene Anne Temple, Danielle Guerra, Lizette Larocque, Jeff R. Crane, Erin Sloan, Lynneth Stuart-Hill
European Journal of Adapted Physical Activity 10, 3-9 (2017) | DOI: 10.5507/euj.2017.001 
Given the importance of fundamental motor skill proficiency for children's participation in games, sports, and physical activity; our aim was to concurrently examine the fundamental motor skill proficiency of children living with a disability, children born prematurely, and children born full-term without a disability in their first year of school (kindergarten). Participants were 260 children (mean age = 5y9m; boys = 52%); 33 were born prematurely and 12 children lived with a disability. Motor skills were assessed during physical education using the Test of Gross Motor Development-2, and parent reports were used to indicate disability and prematurity...
Muscular strength of adult Special Olympians by country economic status
Sara Santarossa, Viviene A. Temple, Pauli Rintala, Meghann Lloyd, Brooke DeMarco, John T. Foley
European Journal of Adapted Physical Activity 10, 10-16 (2017) | DOI: 10.5507/euj.2017.002
There is a strong relationship between economic prosperity and health as well as between muscle strength and health (morbidity and mortality). However, very little research has concomitantly examined economic prosperity and muscular strength in the general population, and no studies have simultaneously examined these factors in a population of adults with intellectual disabilities. This study examined grip strength among adult Special Olympics participants by country economic status. A total of 12,132 (men = 65%) right and left hand grip strength records were available from the Special Olympics International (SOI) FUNFitness database. The 127 countries...
Experiences of children with autism spectrum disorders in adapted physical education
Josephine Blagrave
European Journal of Adapted Physical Activity 10, 17-27 (2017) | DOI: 10.5507/euj.2017.003
School-age children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are rarely asked to describe their experiences within the programs that they receive and are largely missing from the narrative of their own lives. Current literature on the experiences of children with ASD have focused on special education classrooms, sensory perceptions, and general physical education classes and no prior studies have addressed how middle school-age children with ASD perceive their adapted physical education (APE) experience. Data were collected from participants (N = 10) through a drawing, an observation in their APE setting, and an interview. Themes identified were enjoyment...
Fundamental movement skill and physical fitness measures in children with disabilities
Aija Klavina, Karina Ostrovska, Martins Campa
European Journal of Adapted Physical Activity 10, 28-37 (2017) | DOI: 10.5507/euj.2017.004
This study aimed to explore fundamental motor skills and physical fitness outcomes in the group of children with visual, physical and intellectual disabilities. Alongside the average data outcomes, possible gender differences in all measures were also explored. In addition, the association between the level of movement performance and physical fitness variables was investigated. Participants were 82 elementary school age children with mild to moderate disabilities (mean age 9.6 years). To assess fundamental movement skills (FMS), children completed the Test of Gross Motor Development (TGMD) -2. Physical fitness was measured by the four tasks including...