The effect of a European-based exercise program upon the health-related physical fitness of individuals with intellectual disabilities: The alive and kicking perspective

Abstract

The present study examined the effect of the European-Based 'Alive and Kicking' exercise program on the health-related physical fi tness of individuals with (Experimental Group: EG) and without (Control Group: CG) (Intellectual Disability: ID). The Self-Determination Theory: SDT, guided both the 6-month preparatory phase and the 9-month exercise program, which was conducted in fi ve separate European countries (Cyprus, France, Greece, Portugal and Spain). The total sample (n = 200, 54% males and 46% females) comprised of 168 individuals with ID (age: 26.54 years, + 7.78) and 32 individuals without ID (age: 25.81 years, + 8.73) respectively. The statistical analyses revealed that the ID group's performance (EG) improved signifi cantly in a range of health-related physical fi tness variables (sit & reach, pushups, sit ups, long jump, ½ mile walk/ run). In turn, the participants from the CG improved mainly in muscular endurance (sit ups and pushups). The results are discussed in accordance with SDT and the dairies kept from the staff involved (coaches and psychologists) during the 9-month intervention. The present fi ndings, although subjective to certain limitations, are encouraging, given the large-scale, real-world nature of the research design, and provide evidence supporting the integration of theoretical strategies enhancing motivation into traditional coaching programs for individuals with ID.The physical itness of individuals with ID has been examined and the research indings consistently indicate that they a) do not meet the general itness criteria [4,11] and b) are less it compared to the general population [9,10]. Skowronski, et al. [12], summarized previous research efforts conducted in the United States and in Europe and claimed that a continuing pattern of low itness for individuals with ID is consistently observed [12]. Additionally, individuals with ID show faster declines in itness over the life-span, compared toThe effect of a European-based exercise program upon the health-related physical fi tness of individuals with intellectual disabilities: The alive and kicking perspective https://www.heighpubs.org/jsmt 082 https://doi.

Coaching styles and sports motivation in athletes with and without Intellectual Impairments

“…Psychological needs refer to the inherent need for competence (e.g., through mastering an activity, positive reinforcement, winning a competition), autonomy (experience of volition) and relatedness (social environment's support) [18]. These needs are critical in athletes with II as they guide their sports behaviour and facilitate their long-term engagement in sports [20]. However, the cognitive impairments (e.g., reasoning and judging), the high anxiety levels, and the low self-esteem of people with II [9,21], could negatively influence their autonomous motivation and in turn, hinder their sports performance progression [12,19,22].…”