Levels and patterns of physical activity and sedentary behavior in adults with and without visual impairment.

BACKGROUND: Limited data are available on objectively measured physical activity (PA) and sedentary behavior (SB) among adults with and without visual impairment (VI). OBJECTIVE: To compare PA and SB levels and patterns in adults with and without VI and to examine how these differ based on sex and day of the week. METHODS: Thirty-two participants with VI and 32 participants without VI participated in this cross-sectional study. PA and SB were assessed using GT3X ActiGraph accelerometers during waking hours for 7 days, and variables were examined in terms of disability group, sex, and day of the week. Nonparametric Mann-Whitney U test and Wilcoxon signed-rank test were used, and significance was set at p < 0.05. RESULTS: PA did not differ in terms of sex or day of the week in participants with VI. The PA of participants without VI was significantly higher for men than it was for women and was significantly higher during weekdays than on weekend days. Total sedentary time and the duration of SB breaks were significantly longer for female participants with VI than for those without VI. The number of sedentary bouts lasting ≥10 min during weekend days was significantly higher for participants with VI than for those without VI. CONCLUSIONS: Most adults with and without VI did not meet the recommended levels of daily PA and spend a large portion of the day being sedentary. Interventions to enhance PA and reduce sedentary time in adults with and without VI are required.

Effects of a Floor Hockey Intervention on Motor Proficiency, Physical Fitness, and Adaptive Development in Youths with Mild Intellectual Disabilities.

This study examined the effects of a 12-week floor hockey training program on the motor proficiency, physical fitness, and adaptive development of youths with mild intellectual disabilities (IDs). A total of 54 youths with IDs were divided into two groups: a floor hockey exercise group (EG; n = 27; age, 16.59 ± 0.56 years) and a control group (CG; n = 27; age, 16.65 ± 0.63 years). The participants in the EG attended sessions of a floor hockey training program 3 times per week over a 12-week period. The CG group maintained their standard activities of daily living. The participants' scores on the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency, Second Edition, Brockport Physical Fitness Test, and traditional Chinese version of the teacher form of the Adaptive Behavior Assessment System, Second Edition, were obtained before and after the intervention. The results of the study indicate that the 12-week floor hockey training program significantly increased the participants' scores for most indicators of motor proficiency (p < 0.01), physical fitness (p < 0.01), and adaptive development (p < 0.01). The findings provide evidence that physical activity interventions focusing on floor hockey training are a viable therapeutic option for treating youths with IDs.

Physical and Sedentary Activity Patterns in Youths with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Little is known about the patterns of sedentary behavior and physical activity (PA) within different school levels (i.e., primary school and secondary school) and on different day types (i.e., weekdays and weekend days) among youths with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The sample was recruited from one city in Taiwan. A total of 68 male youths with ASD, aged 6-17 years, participated in the study. PA was assessed using an ActiGraph accelerometer, and sedentary behaviors (i.e., TV viewing, computer use, and reading time) were determined using a self-report log. The main findings were that (a) primary school youths with ASD were more active than secondary school youths with ASD on both weekdays and weekend days, but primary school youths with ASD also had more sedentary time than did secondary school youths with ASD on both weekdays and weekend days; (b) secondary school youths with ASD were more active but also more sedentary on weekdays compared with weekend days, but they had more screen use on weekend days compared with on weekdays. Future interventions are required to decrease sedentary behavior and increase PA to improve the health of these youths according to school level and day of the week.

Joint position sense of lower extremities is impaired and correlated with balance function in children with developmental coordination disorder.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the joint position sense of the lower extremities and its relationship with motor function in children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD) and typically developing (TD) children. METHODS: A total of 56 participants were recruited; 28 children with DCD (age 10.86±1.07 years; 13 females, 15 males) and 28 TD children (age 10.96±1.18 years; 12 females, 16 males). Knee and ankle joint position sense were assessed using a Biodex isokinetic dynamometer. Joint position acuity was measured by position error (PE) and position error variability (PEV). Motor function was examined using the 2nd edition of Movement Assessment Battery for children (MABC-2) and quantified via sub-scores from 3 MABC-2 domains. RESULTS: Both PE and PEV at knee and ankle joints were significantly greater in children with DCD compared with TD children. In addition, both PE and PEV were significantly greater at the ankle joints than the knee joints in children with DCD. For children with DCD only, joint position acuity in the lower extremities significantly and negatively correlated with MABC-2 balance sub-score. CONCLUSION: This study verifies that lower limb proprioception is impaired in children with DCD. Also, children with DCD displayed greater proprioceptive deficits at the ankle compared with the knee joint. Children with DCD who had poorer joint position acuity, i.e. greater PE and PEV, in the lower extremities tended to perform less well in balance function.

The role of physical activity and body-related perceptions in motor skill competence of adolescents with autism spectrum disorder.

Purpose: This study assessed the associations of motor skill competence with physical activity and physical self-perception of adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).Study design: Cross-sectional study.Methods: A total of 63 male adolescents, aged 12-18 years, with ASD participated in the study. The Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency-Second Edition and the Chinese version of the Physical Self-Perception Profile were administered. Physical activity was assessed using a uniaxial accelerometer.Results: The main findings were that (a) both moderate-to-vigorous physical activity and self-perceived physical condition were positively related to manual coordination (MC) and strength and agility (SA); (b) moderate-to-vigorous physical activity was the only predictor of MC and accounted for 14% of the variance; and (c) perceived physical condition explained 16% of the variance in SA, and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity and perceived physical condition together accounted for 26% of the SA.Conclusion: Future interventions aimed at improving motor skill competence in adolescents with ASD should focus on improving the time spent on moderate-to-vigorous physical activity and developing a positive perceived physical condition.Implications for rehabilitationLess than half of the participants with ASD accumulated at least 60 min of daily moderate-to-vigorous physical activity.Of the participants with ASD, only 19% had clinical levels of total motor impairments.Activities that promote successful moderate-to-vigorous physical activity and support positive physical self-perception (i.e., physical condition) are most likely to develop motor skill competency in adolescents with ASD.

Finger soaking enhances effects of light touch on reducing body sway in children with developmental coordination disorder.

OBJECTIVES: To compare sensitivity to light touch in children with developmental coordination disorder and those with typical development. Also, to investigate how changes/increases in sensitivity to light touch influence the effects of light fingertip touch on reducing body sway in both groups, while controlling for the confounding effects of arm configuration. METHODS: Twenty-six children with developmental coordination disorder and 26 typically developing children were enrolled in the study. To change/increase sensitivity to light touch, participants immersed their dominant index finger in a surfactant-water solution. Sensitivity to light touch was measured before and after soaking. Participants performed all conditions (no fingertip touch, light fingertip touch, and light fingertip touch after soaking) with the same arm configuration, while body sway was measured. RESULTS: Analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed that the children with developmental coordination disorder were less sensitive to light touch than typically developing children (p <0.05). For both groups, immersing a fingertip in surfactant-water solution increased sensitivity to light touch (p < 0.05). Finger soaking enhanced the effects of light fingertip touch on reducing body sway only in those children with developmental coordination disorder (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Finger soaking can be used as a rehabilitation strategy for promoting sensitivity to light touch, as well as for enhancing the effects of light fingertip touch in reducing body sway in children with developmental coordination disorder.

External focus of attention concurrently elicits optimal performance of suprapostural pole-holding task and postural stability in children with developmental coordination disorder.

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of different attentional focus conditions (external focus (EF) vs. internal focus (IF) vs. no focus (NF)) on the performance of a pole-holding task and postural stability in children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD) and typically developing children (TDC), while addressing previous study limitations. A total of 186 participants were enrolled in the analysis comprising 91 children with DCD (28 in the EF, 32 in the IF, and 31 in the NF condition) and 95 TDC (31 in the EF, 33 in the IF, and 31 in the NF condition). Participants were required to hold a pole with their hands still and parallel to the floor while focusing on pole movement (EF), focusing on hands (IF), or without focus instructions (NF), while pole movements and postural sway were recorded. Results showed that pole movements were significantly smaller during the EF condition (p < 0.05) compared with IF and NF conditions for both the DCD and TDC groups. In addition, postural sway was significantly lower during the EF condition compared with IF and NF conditions (p < 0.05). This study verified that the EF condition can not only facilitate better performance in holding a pole horizontal and immobile, but also concurrently promote greater postural stability than both IF and NF conditions for children with DCD and TDC.

Effects of Physical Exercise Intervention on Motor Skills and Executive Functions in Children With ADHD: A Pilot Study.

OBJECTIVE: This study examined the effect of a 12-week table tennis exercise on motor skills and executive functions in children with ADHD. METHOD: Fifteen children with ADHD received the intervention, whereas 15 children with ADHD and 30 typically developing children did not. The Test of Gross Motor Development-2, Stroop, and Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) were conducted before and after the intervention. RESULTS: After the intervention, the ADHD training group scored significantly higher in the locomotor as well as object-control skills, Stroop Color-Word condition, and WCST total correct performance compared with the ADHD non-training group, and we noted improvements in the locomotor as well as object-control skills, Stroop Color-Word condition, and three aspects of the WCST performances of the ADHD training group over time. CONCLUSION: A 12-week table tennis exercise may have clinical relevance in motor skills and executive functions of children with ADHD.

Not just a light fingertip touch: A facilitation of functional integration between body sway and visual search in older adults.

BACKGROUND: Prior studies demonstrated that, compared to no fingertip touch (NT), a reduction in body sway resulting from the effects of light fingertip touch (LT) facilitates the performance of visual search, buttressing the concept of functional integration. However, previous findings may be confounded by different arm postures required between the NT and LT conditions. Furthermore, in older adults, how LT influences the interactions between body sway and visual search has not been established. RESEARCH QUESTIONS: (1) Are LT effects valid after excluding the influences of different upper limb configurations? (2) Is functional integration is feasible for older adults? METHODS: Twenty-two young (age = 21.3 ±â€¯2.0) and 22 older adults (age = 71.8 ±â€¯4.1) were recruited. Participants performed visual inspection and visual searches under NT and LT conditions. RESULTS: The older group significantly reduced AP sway (p < 0.05) in LT compared to NT conditions, of which the LT effects on postural adaptation were more remarkable in older than young adults (p < 0.05). In addition, the older group significantly improved search accuracy (p < 0.05) from the LT to the NT condition, and these effects were equivalent between groups. SIGNIFICANCE: After controlling for postural configurations, the results demonstrate that light fingertip touch reduces body sway and concurrently enhances visual search performance in older adults. These findings confirmed the effects of LT on postural adaptation as well as supported functional integration in older adults.

The impacts of physical activity intervention on physical and cognitive outcomes in children with autism spectrum disorder.

This study examined the effects of a 12-week physical activity intervention on the motor skill proficiency and executive function of 22 boys (aged 9.08 ± 1.75 years) with autism spectrum disorder. In Phase I of the 12 weeks, 11 boys with autism spectrum disorder (Group A) received the intervention, whereas the other 11 boys with autism spectrum disorder (Group B) did not (true control, no intervention). The arrangement was reversed in Phase II, which lasted an additional 12 weeks. The Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency, Second Edition, and the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test were conducted three times for each participant (Group A, primary grouping: baseline (T1), post-assessment (T2), and follow-up assessment (T3); Group B, control grouping: T1-T2; intervention condition, T2-T3). The main findings were that both groups of children with autism spectrum disorder significantly exhibited improvements in motor skill proficiency (the total motor composite and two motor-area composites) and executive function (three indices of the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test) after 12 weeks of physical activity intervention. In addition, the effectiveness appeared to have been sustained for at least 12 weeks in Group A. The findings provide supporting evidence that physical activity interventions involving table tennis training may be a viable therapeutic option for treating children with autism spectrum disorder.

Effects of Physical Activity Intervention on Motor Proficiency and Physical Fitness in Children With ADHD: An Exploratory Study.

OBJECTIVE: This study explored how a 12-week simulated developmental horse-riding program (SDHRP) combined with fitness training influenced the motor proficiency and physical fitness of children with ADHD. METHOD: Twelve children with ADHD received the intervention, whereas 12 children with ADHD and 24 typically developing (TD) children did not. The fitness levels and motor skills of the participants were assessed using standardized tests before and after the 12-week training program. RESULTS: Significant improvements were observed in the motor proficiency, cardiovascular fitness, and flexibility of the ADHD training group following the intervention. CONCLUSION: Children with ADHD exhibit low levels of motor proficiency and cardiovascular fitness; thus, using the combined 12-week SDHRP and fitness training positively affected children with ADHD.

A racket-sport intervention improves behavioral and cognitive performance in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

The present study assessed the effects of a 12-week table tennis exercise on motor skills, social behaviors, and executive functions in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). In the first 12-week phase, 16 children (group I) received the intervention, whereas 16 children (group II) did not. A second 12-week phase immediately followed with the treatments reversed. Improvements were observed in executive functions in both groups after the intervention. After the first 12-week phase, some motor and behavioral functions improved in group I. After the second 12-week phase, similar improvements were noted for group II, and the intervention effects achieved in the first phase were persisted in group I. The racket-sport intervention is valuable in promoting motor skills, social behaviors, and executive functions and should be included within the standard-of-care treatment for children with ADHD.

Objectively Measured Physical Activity and Health-Related Physical Fitness in Secondary School-Aged Male Students With Autism Spectrum Disorders.

BACKGROUND: Recent evidence suggests that childhood obesity is increasing in children with typical development (TD) and in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). The associations between physical activity (PA) levels and physical fitness components have not yet been objectively examined in this population but may have clinical implications for the development of secondary health complications. OBJECTIVE: The aims of this study were: (1) to compare PA and physical fitness between secondary school-aged male students with ASD and their peers with TD and (2) to assess possible interrelationships between PA and physical fitness levels in each group. DESIGN: This was a cross-sectional study. METHODS: Physical activity was recorded every 10 seconds by using accelerometry in 70 male students with (n=35) and without (n=35) ASD for up to 5 weekdays and 2 weekend days. The Brockport Physical Fitness Test was used to assess physical fitness. RESULTS: The primary findings were: (1) participants with ASD were less physically active overall and engaged in moderate-to-vigorous PA for a lower percentage of time compared with participants with TD during weekdays; (2) participants with ASD had significantly lower scores on all physical fitness measures, except body composition; and (3) group-dependent relationships existed between physical fitness profiles and PA levels. LIMITATIONS: The study design limits causal inference from the results. CONCLUSION: Specific interventions for maximizing PA and physical fitness levels in secondary school-aged male students with ASD are urgently needed.

Fundamental movement skills in children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

The purpose of this study was to compare the movement skills of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and those without disabilities. Ninety-one children (ASD, n = 28; ADHD, n = 29; control, n = 34), ages 6-10 years, were of average IQ participated. After controlling for age, both ASD and ADHD groups scored significantly lower than controls (p's < .05) on overall gross motor development as well as locomotor and object control subtests, and the ASD group performed more poorly than the ADHD group (p's < .01) on both subtests. Of the children with ASD and ADHD, only 16% had clinical levels of impairment. Potential underlying factors are discussed, with suggestions for future research.