European Journal of Adapted Physical Activity, 2024 (vol. 17)
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.
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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;...
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...
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.
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....
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...
“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...
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...