Physical Recreation Constraints Among Guatemalan Families with Children with Visual Impairments

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify constraints related to active participation in physical recreation activities and strategies to overcome those constraints from the perspective of Guatemalan families with children with visual impairments. Methods: Participants in this study were Hispanic parents (N=13) of children with visual impairments attending a sports camp held in Guatemala City. Qualitative data were gathered through one-on-one interviews. Results: Results of this study indicate that Hispanic families who reside in Guatemala City face constraints that impact their physical recreation choices, although they manage to engage in activity whenever possible and try to do the very best for their children with visual impairments. Conclusion: Families voiced their desire to receive help from governmental agencies to establish community programs and activities for family participation

Yoga Interventions for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Review

Abstract: This systematic review aimed to examine published research literature on yoga interventions for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) by describing study characteristics and major findings. The following databases were searched to identify relevant articles from database inception through August 23, 2023: PubMed, CINHAL, PsycINFO, Academic Search Premier, Web of Science, Scopus, Alt HealthWatch, and Cochrane CENTRAL. Fifteen articles met all inclusion criteria. Study characteristics, yoga intervention characteristics, and major findings were extracted. Major findings suggested that yoga may have a positive effect on motor skills, physiological health, and social-emotional skills for children with ASD. The Crowe Critical Appraisal Tool (CCAT) was used to assess the methodological quality of each study. The critical appraisal of the articles revealed limitations in study design and sampling procedures. Based on this review, recommendations can be made to conduct randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with stronger methodological considerations and to specify sampling techniques

A Randomized Feasibility Trial of a Fundamental Motor Skill Parent-Mediated Intervention for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders

The purpose of this pilot study was to examine the feasibility of a fundamental motor skills (FMS) intervention with two groups on the acquisition of FMS of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). We randomly assigned families (n = 15) of children with ASD aged 4–11 years into two groups (a workshop or a home-based group) focused on FMS development. Both groups participated in a 10-week intervention and were given the same instructional manual and adapted physical activity equipment. The workshop group also attended four in-person workshops targeting the needs of children with ASD and their parents. Children were tested on their FMS using the third edition of the Test of Gross Motor Development at the start and end of the intervention and then three months following the intervention. The recruitment rate was 50%, and the retention rate was 80% for all participants. The intervention for groups was safe and accepted by the participants as evaluated by post-program interviews. The outcomes of this pilot study suggest that parents can facilitate the acquisition of FMS of their children with ASD. Although these results are positive, there is a need to further identify effective interventions for FMS development in children with ASD

Quality of life of Brazilian wheelchair tennis athletes across competitive and elite levels

Abstract Aims This study aimed to identify Brazilian wheelchair tennis athletes' quality of life and to compare the perception scores between competitive and elite athletes. Methods Participants were wheelchair tennis athletes (N = 31) from Brazil (males = 25, females = 6) divided into two groups: competitive and elite. Data was collected using the Brazilian version of the WHOQOL-Bref. The WHOQOL-Bref asks two general questions, and is thereafter divided into four main domains: 1) physical, psychological, social, and environment, which give us an understanding of their overall quality of life perception. Results The results showed that overall, 29 out of the 31 athletes perceived their quality of life positively, regardless of the competitive level. However, statistically higher perceptions were found in the physical domain and the total score of quality of life of the elite group. Conclusion The findings of this study suggest that even though participation in high-performance adapted sports may offer a stressful and exhausting environment, elite wheelchair tennis athletes from Brazil perceive themselves as having a better QoL than competitive athletes

The Current Youth Sport Culture and its Impact on Sport Participation Experiences of Low Socioeconomic Status Families

Purpose: The rise of sport specialization can jeopardize the opportunities for families of low socioeconomic status (SES) to participate in organized sport. However, obtaining an athletic scholarship may be a motivating factor for low SES youth to sport specialize. Yet, the experiences of low SES athletes in sport participation are not well known. Method: We used an Interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) to explore experiences of low SES families with children participating in sport and how this may be impacted by the current youth sport culture that promotes sport specialization. We engaged in semi-structured interviews with 12 low SES parents. Results: The following 4 interrelated themes emerged: (a) Benefits of youth sport participation, (b) Negatives and/or barriers to youth sport participation, (c) Strategies to get involved in youth sport, and (d) Facilitators for youth sport participation. Conclusions: Findings indicate that while low SES youth sport parents are motivated to involve their children in sports, there are many barriers that hinder their opportunities for their child to participate in organized sports. These issues are exacerbated by the current youth sport culture which emphasizes sport specialization with very few existing facilitators to involve their child in organize sport