Swim, Strength, or Combined Programs: Effect on Health-Related Physical Fitness in Adolescents With Down Syndrome.

The adolescent population with Down syndrome (DS) appears to show higher levels of body fat and lower levels of cardiorespiratory fitness or muscle strength than their peers without disabilities. There is a need to create physical activity programs to improve these data. The aim of this research was to determine the effects of a 16-week swimming program, strength program, and combined program (swimming and strength training) on body composition and health-related physical fitness on adolescents with DS and to assess whether there are differences in the results of the different training programs. Forty-five adolescents (17 female and 28 male; average age 15.5 [1.53] years) with DS were recruited and randomized to three groups (swim [n = 15], strength [n = 15], and combined [n = 15]). Results showed that the swim group had significant improvements in all health-related physical fitness variables and there was an improvement in some body-composition variables (p < .05). The strength and combined groups obtained minor improvements in the variables analyzed. In summary, a 16-week swim program consisting of three sessions of 60 min is able to improve levels of body composition and health-related physical fitness in adolescents with DS. The swim training program seems to be more effective in improving body composition and health-related physical fitness than the strength or combined program. These findings could be useful in different special-education centers due to the predisposition shown by the population with DS to this sport modality.

Dietary Intake, Adherence to Mediterranean Diet and Lifestyle-Related Factors in People with Schizophrenia.

The purpose of this study was to examine the dietary intake of both inpatients and outpatients with schizophrenia in the Portuguese population as a potential key contributing factor to the poor physical health profiles, and understand the relationship of diet quality to other lifestyle factors. Participants of this cross-sectional study completed a semi quantitative food frequency questionnaire. Diet quality was determined by adherence to the Mediterranean Diet. In addition participants completed the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short-Form and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Tobacco smoking was assessed through a series of general questions. A total of 100 patients (50% inpatients and 28% female) with schizophrenia were included in the final analysis. Patients reported a high consumption of caffeine, while deficits were evident for fibre and folate intakes, when compared to the European Food Safety Authority recommendations. Both inpatients and outpatients reported poor to moderate diet quality. Smokers reported poorer diet quality when compared to non-smokers (p < 0.001). Dietary intake, and its relationship to other lifestyle components, should be considered for intervention, in order to improve physical health of people living with schizophrenia.

Autonomous motivation and quality of life as predictors of physical activity in patients with schizophrenia.

AIM: Being physically active is a complex behaviour in patients with schizophrenia. Several factors were identified as barriers to achieving active behaviours in this population. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate among a number of barriers what predicts the most on physical activity (PA) in patients with schizophrenia. METHODS: A total of 114 patients (28♀) with schizophrenia were included. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated. Autonomous and controlled motivation (Behavioural Regulation in Exercise Questionnaire - 3), self-esteem (Rosenberg Self-esteem scale), quality of life (World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale - Brief version) and functional exercise capacity (6-minute walk test - 6MWT) were evaluated. Multiple Regression Analysis was applied to assess the effect of these variables on Total PA per week (International Physical Activity Questionnaire - short version). RESULTS: Autonomous motivation and domains of quality of life were positively correlated with Total PA per week. Stepwise multiple regression analyses showed that of all the candidate factors to predict PA, autonomous motivation and global domain of quality of life were found as significant predictors. CONCLUSION: Our findings help to understand the importance of autonomous motivation and quality of life for PA in patients with schizophrenia. Knowledge about these predictors may provide guidance to improve PA behaviour in this population.

Strength versus aerobic program: effects on body composition and health-related physical fitness levels of youths with Down syndrome.

Aims: To determine the effect of a 16-week fitness program (strength vs. aerobic) on different indicators of body composition and components of health-related physical fitness in youths with Down syndrome. Methods and procedures outcomes: Fifty adolescents (19 girls and 31 boys; average age, 18.33 ± 1.42 years) with Down syndrome were recruited and randomized to two groups (strength group vs. aerobic group). Adolescents allocated in the aerobic group carried out a physical activity program three times a week for 16 weeks meanwhile adolescents allocated in the strength group performed a fitness program three times a week for 16 weeks. Results: The exercise group had significant improvements in all health-related physical fitness variables (p < .05) but not on body composition. Conclusions and implications: A sixteen week fitness program consisting of three sessions of 60 min is able to increase levels of health-related physical fitness but not on body composition in youths with Down syndrome. The aerobic program does not seem to show significant differences.

Feasibility and effectiveness of a 24-weeks outdoor exercise program on the physical and mental health of persons with schizophrenia.

Outdoor exercise can be a novelty and effective therapeutic strategy to achieve positive physical and mental health outcomes in persons with schizophrenia. The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility and effectiveness of a 24-weeks outdoor exercise program in the physical and mental health of persons with schizophrenia. Fifty-two outpatients with schizophrenia were conveniently assigned to a 24-weeks walking/jogging combined with cycling outdoor program (n = 23, male = 14) or control group (n = 29, male = 20). Demographic and clinical measures were collected. Physical health was evaluated using anthropometric measures, 6 min walk test, Eurofit and accelerometer. Mental health was evaluated using self-esteem, motivation for exercise and quality of life questionnaires. Attendance rate to the outdoor program was 92 %. The exercise program significantly decreased participant's body mass index and improved functional exercise capacity and balance. No effects were reported in the self-esteem, motivation for physical activity and quality of life. Significant decreases were found in abdominal strength, hand grip and self-esteem levels of the control group. The outdoor exercise combining walking/jogging and cycling was an effective intervention to decrease body mass index and to improve physical fitness. It can be suggested as a therapeutic approach with an important impact on the management of schizophrenia.

An impaired health related muscular fitness contributes to a reduced walking capacity in patients with schizophrenia: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Patients with schizophrenia report muscle weakness. The relation of this muscle weakness with performing daily life activities such as walking is however not yet studied. The aim of this study was to quantify walking capacity and health related muscular fitness in patients with schizophrenia compared with age-, gender and body mass index (BMI)-matched healthy controls. Secondly, we identified variables that could explain the variability in walking capacity and in health related muscular fitness in patients with schizophrenia. METHODS: A total of 100 patients with schizophrenia and 40 healthy volunteers were initially screened. Eighty patients with schizophrenia (36.8±10.0 years) and the 40 age-, gender- and body mass index (BMI)-matched healthy volunteers (37.1±10.3 years) were finally included. All participants performed a standing broad jump test (SBJ) and a six-minute walk test (6MWT) and filled out the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Patients additionally had a fasting metabolic laboratory screening and were assessed for psychiatric symptoms. RESULTS: Patients with schizophrenia did have lower 6MWT (17.9%, p<0.001) [effect size (ES)=-1.01] and SBJ (14.1%, p<0.001) (ES=-0.57) scores. Patients were also less physically active (1291.0±1201.8 metabolic equivalent-minutes/week versus 2463.1±1365.3, p<0.001) (ES=-0.91) than controls. Schizophrenia patients with metabolic syndrome (MetS) (35%) had a 23.9% lower (p<0.001) SBJ-score and 22.4% (p<0.001) lower 6MWT-score than those without MetS. In multiple regression analysis, 71.8% of the variance in 6MWT was explained by muscular fitness, BMI, presence of MetS and physical activity participation, while 53.9% of the variance in SBJ-score was explained by age, illness duration, BMI and physical activity participation. CONCLUSIONS: The walking capacity and health-related muscular fitness are impaired in patients with schizophrenia and both should be a major focus in daily clinical practice and future research.

Intracyclic velocity variation and arm coordination assessment in swimmers with Down syndrome.

This study examined the differences in intracycle velocity variation and arm coordination in front crawl in swimmers with Down syndrome in three breathing conditions. International swimmers with Down syndrome (N = 16) performed 3 × 20 m front crawl at 50 m race speed: without breathing, breathing to the preferred side, and breathing to the nonpreferred side. A two dimensional video movement analysis was performed using the APASystem. Breathing conditions were compared using Repeated Measures ANOVA. Swimming velocity was higher without breathing and intracyclic velocity variation was higher while breathing. Swimmers tended to a catch up arm coordination mode for both breathing conditions and a superposition mode when not breathing. These data reflect arm coordination compromising swimming performance, particularly when comparing with non disabled swimmers in literature. The physical and perhaps cognitive impairment associated with Down syndrome may result in a disadvantage in both propulsion and drag, more evident when breathing.

Swimmers with Down Syndrome Are Healthier and Physically Fit than Their Untrained Peers.

While there are positive benefits from physical activity participation for individuals with Down syndrome, little is known about the effects of swimming training. The aim of this study was to compare the body composition and physical fitness profile of competitive swimmers and moderately active (untrained) individuals with Down syndrome. The Eurofit Special test was applied to a group of competitive swimmers (n = 18) and a group of untrained individuals (n = 19), all with Down syndrome. In addition, measurements were taken to determine body composition characteristics. The results showed differences between swimmers and untrained subjects in height, sum of the four skinfolds, body fat %, fat mass index and all items of the Eurofit Special test. Swimmers with Down syndrome exhibited physical fitness levels near to the Eurofit standards, although lower fitness levels were attained by these persons when compared to athletes with intellectual disability. It can be concluded that the practice of competitive swimming seems to counteract the tendency for obesity in persons with Down syndrome and also helps to increase strength, speed and balance.

The effectiveness of community-based upper body exercise programs in persons with chronic paraplegia and manual wheelchair users: A systematic review.

Context: Physical activity has been beneficial to health, functional independence and quality of life in individuals with spinal cord injury. However, there is no consensus concerning the effects of community-based upper-body exercise for people with paraplegia who use a manual wheelchair.Objective: Conduct a systematic review of evidence of upper-body exercise effects able to be developed in a community-setting, on both functional independence and quality of life, for individuals with chronic paraplegia who use a manual wheelchair.Methods: PubMed, Scopus, Ebsco, SportDiscus and Web of Science databases were browsed, searching for studies that combined words as paraplegia, exercise, functional independence and quality of life and their synonyms, published from January/1998 to December/2018 in English. PEDro scale and the Cochrane tool analyzed methodological quality and risk of bias, respectively.Results: Four studies were selected out of 4004. Studies conducted aerobic arm-ergometer and resistance training predominantly at home. Upper-limb functionality and wheelchair propulsion assessed functional independence, but only the first presented positive effects after resistance training. Resistance and aerobic arm-ergometer training seemed to improve health-related and subjective quality of life.Conclusion: Studies have shown low methodological quality and high risk of bias. Aerobic arm-ergometer and resistance training were the most upper-body exercises used. Resistance training improved functional independence while both types of exercise induced positive effects on quality of life. Future studies with uniform and high-quality methodology should be conducted with exercise in community-dwelling people with paraplegia who use a manual wheelchair.

Behavioural Regulation in Exercise Questionnaire in people with schizophrenia: construct validity of the Portuguese versions.

PURPOSE: People with schizophrenia have low physical activity levels that can be explained by the restriction in motivation. The Behavioural Regulation in Exercise Questionnaire-2 is a 19-item scale commonly used to assess five different motivational subtypes for physical activity. However, there are limited psychometric analyses of this version in the schizophrenia context. Moreover, there is a lack of information related to the psychometric properties of version 3 of this questionnaire, with 24 items and six different motivational subtypes. The aim of this study was to examine the construct validity of both Portuguese versions in people with schizophrenia. METHODS: A total of 118 persons with schizophrenia were included (30 women). Cronbach's alpha was used for internal consistency, Pearson's correlation for the retained motivation-types, confirmatory factor analysis for the structural validity of version 2 and exploratory factor analysis for the factor structure of version 3. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Analyses of version 2 provided an adequate fit index for the structure of the five factors. Exploratory analyses suggested retaining 2 factors of version 3. The results of this study suggest that version 3 was an appropriate measure to assess controlled and autonomous motivation for physical activity in people with schizophrenia and support its use in clinical practice and research. Implications for Rehabilitation This study supports the need to identify the reasons why people with schizophrenia practice physical activity. For that purpose, it is important to use valid and cost-effective instruments. The Portuguese version of BREQ-2 confirmed a 5-factor model and showed adequate fit for the application in people with schizophrenia. However, the incremental indices values were lower than expected. The Portuguese version of BREQ-3 showed acceptable psychometric properties to assess controlled and autonomous motivation for physical activity in people with schizophrenia.

Association of lifestyle-related factors and psychological factors on quality of life in people with schizophrenia.

In people with schizophrenia several factors are associated with poor quality of life (QoL), namely, lifestyle-related factors and psychological factors. However, there has been little research on the impact of these factors on QoL. Therefore, the relation between lifestyle-related factors, psychological factors, and QoL in people with schizophrenia was assessed. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 115 patients (25% women, 50% inpatients). QoL was measured by World Health Organisation Quality of Life- Brief Version. Lifestyle-related factors were assessed, namely physical activity (International Physical Activity Questionnaire- Short Form), sleep quality (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index) and dietary intake (Mediterranean Diet score). Psychological factors such as self-esteem (Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale) and autonomous motivation (Behavioural Regulation Questionnaire- version 3) were also measured. Regression analyses were performed to identify significant predictors of QoL. Results showed that self-esteem predicted better global, physical, psychological and environmental QoL. Physical activity predicted better global and physical QoL, while sedentary time predicted poor social and environmental QoL. Identifying predictors of QoL has implication for the effective design and delivery of lifestyles interventions, including physical activity, dietary education and smoking cessation in people with schizophrenia. Adopting healthy lifestyles may lead to improved physical health, psychological well-being and QoL in this population.

Creatine or vitamin D supplementation in individuals with a spinal cord injury undergoing resistance training: A double-blinded, randomized pilot trial.

PURPOSE: Determine whether creatine or vitamin D supplementation improves muscle strength in individuals with spinal cord injury undergoing resistance training. METHODS: Thirteen male and one female with spinal cord injury, from two Portuguese rehabilitation centers, were randomized to creatine (3g daily), vitamin D (25000 IU each two weeks) or placebo group in a double-blind design. All participants performed progressive resistance training during eight weeks. The outcome measures, obtained at baseline and after intervention, included: Sum of four skinfolds; Corrected arm muscle area; Seated medicine ball throw; Handgrip strength with dynamometer; Manual wheelchair slalom test and one repetition maximum for Chest press, Triceps, Pec deck and Lat pulldown. Vitamin D levels were obtained in all participants before and after intervention. RESULTS: 71.4% of participants had deficit values of vitamin D. The corrected arm muscle area improved significantly (p<0.05) in creatine group relatively to the control group. There was a significant correlation (p<0.05) between the one repetition maximum Pec deck and levels of vitamin D. CONCLUSIONS: Supplementation with creatine may improve muscle strength parameters in individuals with spinal cord injury. Vitamin D deficiency is highly prevalent in this population. It is recommended an initial screening of vitamin D levels at the beginning of the physical rehabilitation process.

Reliability and validity of 6MWT for outpatients with schizophrenia: A preliminary study.

Although the 6-minute walk test (6MWT) has been widely used in patients with schizophrenia, there is a lack of scientific evidence about its reliability and validity in this population. The first goal of this study was to explore the test-retest reliability of the 6MWT and to identify the associated parameters that contribute to the variability of the distance walked during the 6MWT in outpatients with schizophrenia. The second goal was to assess the criterion validity of the 6MWT in men with schizophrenia. Fifty one outpatients with schizophrenia participated in the study. To test-retest reliability (men=39; women=12), participants performed the 6MWT twice within 3 days interval. To test criterion validity (men=13), peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak) was measured on a treadmill. For the associated parameters with the distance walked (n=51), medications use, smoking behavior, body and bone composition, and physical activity levels were analyzed. No significant differences between the means of the two 6MWTs were found. The intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.94 indicating good reliability. 6MWT correlated significantly with VO2peak (r=0.67) indicating criterion validity. Height, body fat mass, smoking behavior and minutes of PA/week were significantly associated with the 6MWT. Results suggest that 6MWT shows good reliability for individuals with schizophrenia and good validity for the small sample of male participants in this study.

Quality of life and physical activity levels in outpatients with schizophrenia.

OBJECTIVES: To assess quality of life (QoL) and physical activity (PA) levels of outpatients with schizophrenia and healthy controls matched for age, gender, body mass index (BMI), hip circumference, waist circumference, and waist-to-hip ratio. Additionally, the present study investigated associations between PA levels, QoL, and anthropometric and behavioral measures among outpatients with schizophrenia. METHODS: Thirty-two outpatients with schizophrenia and 32 individuals without mental illness were included in the study. QoL and PA levels were assessed by the World Health Organization Quality of Life Instrument - Abbreviated version (WHOQOL-Bref) and by GT3X triaxial accelerometers, respectively. RESULTS: Outpatients with schizophrenia had poorer QoL and lower vigorous PA levels compared with healthy controls (p < 0.05). The group with schizophrenia showed a significant association between higher weight and lower scores in the mental health domain of the WHOQOL-Bref. A higher BMI was also significantly associated with lower scores in the physical health domain of the WHOQOL-Bref. Schizophrenic patients with smoking behaviors were associated with fewer steps per day and with less moderate to vigorous PA. CONCLUSIONS: This study seeks to shed some light upon the lifestyle of patients with schizophrenia. New psychosocial approaches should focus on PA, weight, and smoking management, thereby helping these patients to improve their QoL.

Validação do Illinois Test Modificado para atletas de futebol de sete paralímpico / Validation Illinois Changed Test for paralympic athletes of football seven

O Futebol de sete Paralímpico é um dos principais esportes praticados por atletas com Paralisia Cerebral na atualidade. Seus benefícios variam da melhora da percepção pessoal à melhoria das condições físicas, sociais, psicológicas, motoras e as respostas fisiológicas. Entretanto, poucos são os testes que possam subsidiar a modalidade e a população no que se diz respeito a aptidão e capacidades físicas. O estudo teve por objetivo validar o teste de agilidade Illinois para atletas da modalidade de futebol de 7 paralímpico. A população foi composta por 16 atletas da seleção brasileira de futebol de 7 paralímpica, com idade entre 20 a 38 anos. A captação dos dados foi realizada por 3 avaliadores que utilizaram o Illinois Test modificado como principal ferramenta. Foram realizadas duas avaliações (testereteste) com 48 hs de intervalo com todos os atletas e avaliadores. Após as análises, foi possível observar que os atletas nos dois dias obtiveram resultados semelhantes, (média geral de todos os atletas incluindo teste-reteste) apresentando o tempo de 10,65 segundos. O melhor tempo foi de 9,62 e pior resultado foi de 14,30 segundos, demostrando assim o potencial de agilidade de toda a equipe. Não houve diferenças estatisticamente significativas entre os 3 avaliadores, o que demonstra alto nível de confiabilidade e replicabilidade do teste. O Illinois modificado para o futebol de 7 paralímpico pode ser usado como uma ferramenta de fácil aplicação, com objetivo de mensurar escores de agilidade de uma equipe, bem como ser usado para futuras comparações em modalidades semelhantes com outras pesquisas...(AU)

The Seven Paralympic Football is one of the main sports practiced by athletes with Cerebral Palsy nowadays. Its benefits range from improving personal perception to improving physical, social, psychological, motor and and physiological responses. However, few are the tests that can subsidize the modality and the population with respect to the aptitude and physical capacities. The study aimed to validate the Illinois Agility Test for athletes of the Football Seven a Side sport. The group of athletes was composed by 16 athletes of the Brazilian Football Seven a Side team, aged between 20 and 38 years. Three evaluators used the modified Illinois test as the main tool performed data collection. Two evaluations were performed (test-retest) with 48 hours intervals with all athletes and evaluators. After the analysis, it was possible to observe that the athletes, in two days obtained similar results, overall mean of all athletes including test-retest presenting the time of 10.65 seconds. The best time was 9.62 seconds and worst result was 14.30 seconds, thus demonstrating the agility potential of the whole team. There were no statistically significant differences among the 3 evaluators, which demonstrated a high level of reliability and use of the test. The modified Illinois test for Football Seven a Side can be used as an easy-to-apply tool with the goal of measuring a team's agility scores as well as being used for future comparisons in similar modalities with other surveys...(AU)

A Eficácia de um Programa de Treino de Trampolins na Proficiência Motora de Crianças com Transtorno do Espectro do Autismo1 / The Efficacy of a Training Program on Trampolines in Motor Proficiency of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

RESUMO: crianças com transtorno do espectro do autismo (TEA) apresentam um desempenho motor inferior às crianças em geral. Com este estudo pretende-se avaliar a eficácia de um programa de treino de trampolins, com a duração de 20 semanas, na proficiência motora e índice de massa corporal (IMC) de crianças com TEA. Participaram um total de 17 crianças (entre os 4 e os 10 anos de idade) com diagnóstico de TEA, que foram distribuídas por dois grupos: grupo experimental (n=6), e controlo (n=11). O grupo experimental foi submetido a uma sessão de treino de trampolins por semana com uma duração de 45 minutos. O grupo de controlo compreende crianças cuja atividade física foi limitada ao currículo obrigatório. A proficiência motora foi avaliada através da bateria de testes Bruininks - Oseretsky. O IMC foi calculado recorrendo à fórmula internacionalmente referenciada. Para análise de variância de medidas repetidas (ANOVA). Ambos os grupos apresentaram características idênticas na avaliação inicial. No que se refere à proficiência motora foram evidentes e significativas as melhorias no GE após o programa de trampolins de 20 semanas (p<0.001). No grupo de controlo embora se tenham observado melhorias significativas estas não apresentaram significado estatístico (p>0.05). Relativamente ao IMC não se registraram alterações significativas em ambos os grupos com a realização do programa de trampolins (p>0.05). Em face deste quadro de resultados é possível concluir que a participação em um programa de trampolins com a duração de 20 semanas contribuiu para melhorar significativamente a proficiência motora de crianças com TEA.

ABSTRACT: Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have a lower motor performance in comparison to children in general. This study aims to assess the effectiveness of a trampoline training program, which lasts 20 weeks, the motor proficiency and body mass index (BMI) of children with ASD. The study included a total of 17 children with ASD aged between 4 and 10 years old, 6 children on trampolines training - experimental group (EG), and the remaining 11 in the control group (CG). Experimental group underwent trampoline training sessions for a week, for 45 minutes. Control Group was limited to the compulsory curriculum. The motor proficiency was assessed by the motor proficiency test Bruininks - Oseretsky. The body mass index (BMI) was calculated using the formula referenced internationally. The analysis of variance for repeated measures (ANOVA) was used for data analysis. Both groups had similar characteristics at initial assessment. Regarding motor skill, improvements were evident and significant in CG after the 20-week trampolines program (p <0.001). In the control group, although there significant improvements were observed, they did not show statistical significance (p> 0.05). Regarding BMI, no significant changes were observed in both groups after the completion of trampolines program (p> 0.05). With the results, it is possible to conclude that participation in a trampolines program for 20 weeks contributed to significantly improve motor proficiency of children with ASD.

Avaliação dos Efeitos de Programas de Intervenção de Atividade Física em Indivíduos com Transtorno do Espectro do Autismo / Assessment of the Effects of Intervention Programs of Physical Activity in Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder

A prática regular de atividade física influencia a saúde e o bem-estar, com papel importante na prevenção de várias doenças crônicas, como doenças cardiovasculares, acidente vascular cerebral, hipertensão, obesidade, diabetes, osteoporose, dentre outras. As vantagens da prática de exercício físico por pessoas com deficiências de desenvolvimento, especificamente de pessoas com transtorno do espetro do autismo (TEA), têm sido estudadas, mas dados as diferentes metodologias e abordagens presentes na literatura, há necessidade de fazer uma compilação das diferentes investigações existentes que permitam concluir quais os efeitos de diferentes tipos de exercício em pessoas com TEA. O objetivo deste artigo é reunir os principais estudos que foram realizados nos últimos anos no âmbito da atividade física em indivíduos com (TEA) e retirar as conclusões acerca dos mesmos. São apresentados 18 estudos, num total de 140 crianças e adultos com várias variantes desta síndrome e que participaram em atividades individualmente ou em grupo. Foram realizadas diversas atividades tais como jogos, natação, corrida, passeios terapêuticos, hidroginástica. As intervenções pretenderam estudar a influência das atividades propostas no comportamento agressivo e estereotipado, funcionamento social, resistência, qualidade de vida e stress, aptidão física e resistência. Os programas de intervenção revelaram melhorias significativas, mostrando as potencialidades do exercício em pessoas com TEA.

Regular physical activity influences health and well-being, with an important role in the prevention of several chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, stroke, hypertension, obesity, diabetes, osteoporosis. The advantages of physical exercise for people with developmental disabilities, specifically people with autism-spectrum disorder (ASD) have been studied, but given the different methodologies and approaches in the literature, there is the need to make a compilation of the different existing research that might allow us to conclude which are the effects of the different types of exercise in people with ASD. The purpose of this article is to bring together the main studies that have been conducted in the latest years in the context of physical activity in individuals with ASD and draw conclusions about them. Eighteen studies are presented, with a total of 140 children and adults with various variants of this syndrome, who participated in individual activities or in groups. Various activities, such as games, swimming, jogging, therapeutic walks, aerobics were performed. Interventions intended to study the influence of the activities proposed in aggressive and stereotyped behavior, social functioning, strength, quality of life and stress, physical fitness and endurance. Intervention programs revealed significant improvement, showing the benefits of exercise for people with ASD.

The body in persons with an amputation.

This study reports on a comparison of how two different groups of people with an amputation view their bodies and perceive how others view them. One group has a history of sport participation, while the other has not. The analysis is based on 14 semistructured interviews with people with amputations: 7 were engaged in sport and 7 were not. The following themes emerged: Body, Prosthesis, Independence, Huma Person, and Social Barriers. One could conclude that participation in sport influences how people with an amputation perceive their body as they live with their body in a more positive way and they better accept their new body condition and their being-in-the-world. The social barriers that people with an amputation have to face daily were evident, and one of the most significant ideas was the importance of being recognized and treated as a person and not as a person with a disability.

Como avaliar a percepção de competência e aceitação social de crianças com paralisia cerebral?Estudo inicial para a determinação das propriedades psicométricas da versão portuguesa da Dutch Pictorial Scale of Perceived Competence and Social Acceptance in Children with Cerebral Palsy / How to measure children with cerebral palsy's perception of competence and social acceptance?Preliminary study to determinate the psychometric properties of the portuguese version of the Dutch Pictorial Scale of Perceived Competence and Social Acceptance in Children with Cerebral Palsy

O principal objectivo deste estudo consistiu na determinação das propriedades psicométricas da versão portuguesa da Dutch Pictorial Scale of Perceived Competence and Social Acceptance in Children with Cerebral Palsy. Participaram neste estudo 108 crianças (60 rapazes e 48 raparigas) com paralisia cerebral, com idades entre os 4 e os 9 anos, distribuídas em hemiplegicas, diplégicas e tetraplégicas e com um QI igual ou superior a 70. A maioria (n=98) frequentava o ensino regular, enquanto apenas 10 frequentavam escolas especiais. O instrumento foi aplicado num segundo momento a 41 das crianças, com um intervalo máximo de duas semanas. Os resultados da correlação de Pearson relativamente aos dois momentos (entre 0.80 e 0.98) bem como o valor do alfa de Cronbach (entre 0.69 e 0.93) evidenciam uma boa fiabilidade da versão portuguesa. Também os valores das inter-correlações entre as quatro subescalas (r=0.60 ou superior) bem como os valores médios das respostas das crianças em função de diferentes características (idade, sexo, condição médica) para as diferentes subescalas apoiam a validade interna do instrumento. Em suma, os resultados do nosso estudo, na sua globalidade, parecem confirmar as propriedades psicométricas da versão portuguesa da Dutch Pictorial Scale, pelo que esta parece constituir-se como um instrumento fiável e válido para a avaliação do modo como as crianças portuguesas com Paralisia Cerebral se percebem no domínio cognitivo, físico e social.

The main purpose of this study was to examine the psychometric properties of the Portuguese version of the Dutch Pictorial Scale of Perceived Competence and Social Acceptance in Children with Cerebral Palsy. The sample was made up of 108 children (60 boys and 48 girls) with cerebral palsy, aged between 4 and 9 years, who suffered hemiplegia, diplegia or quadriplegia and had an IQ of 70 or higher. Most of the children (n=98) attended regular schools (integrated in kindergarten or primary school); indeed, only 10 children attended special schools for children with special needs. A sub-sample of 41 children filled out the scale in two different moments, separated one to two weeks maximum. The results of Pearson correlations between the two administrations (ranging 0.80 to 0.98) and the Cronbach's alpha (ranging 0.69 to 0.93) showed good reliability of the Portuguese version of the Dutch Pictorial Scale. Moreover, the inter-correlations between the four subscales (r=0.60 or higher) as well the mean scores associated by children with different characteristics (age, sex, medical condition) to the different subscales supported the internal validity of the instrument. Therefore, this study provides initial evidence about the psychometric properties of the Portuguese version of the Dutch Pictorial Scale, which is why its use is recommended to assess the perceived competence and social acceptance of Portuguese children with cerebral palsy.