Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a debilitating, degenerative, and chronic disease that affects over 350,000 individuals in the United States. Symptoms such as fatigue, spasticity, weakness, gait and visual disturbances, numbness and balance problems affect many with MS on a regular basis. There are literally an infinite number of combinations of...
Attitude and knowledge levels of physical education teachers about working with Mexican American students and families were measured using Doyle and Chng's (1994) Mexican American Attitude and Knowledge Scale (MAAKS). Multicultural training, adapted physical education training, and other relative experiences that might affect attitude and knowledge levels were analyzed.
Participants...
Psychometric properties of two systematic observation tools, the System for Observing Fitness Instruction Time (SOFIT) and the Children's Activity Rating Scale (CARS), were examined for use with individuals with mental retardation (MR). Eleven children with MR were videotaped while participating in gym-based physical activity. Accelerometer data were collected and synchronized...
Sleep is an active process that affects an individual's daily functioning and physical and mental health. It is also beneficial for an individual's overall health and well being. Children with autism often have difficulty sleeping. One common complaint from parents of children with autism is that these children lack sufficient...
The ability to establish and maintain balance is claimed to be an important prerequisite of movement tasks. However, despite this general belief, there is limited empirical evidence to support the contribution of balance in motor skill performance. Furthermore, psychometric properties of using a computerized force platform to assess balance ability...
Manual wheelchair propulsion is a physiologically stressful and biomechanically inefficient form of locomotion. The repetitious nature of propulsion puts wheelchair uses at high risk for developing upper extremity overuse injuries. Previous kinematic analysis has revealed that wheelchair users employ several distinct stroking techniques. One of the techniques, circular pattern (CP),...
Physical activity is increasingly recognized as a maj or component contributing to the promotion of a healthy lifestyle. Evidence exists that a physically active behavior is carried over from childhood to adolescents and possibly to adulthood. Limited research about the physical activity behavior of students with visual impairment is available,...
As obesity rates of children and adolescents rise within the Unites States, physical activity becomes increasingly important for adolescents with and without a disability. As the trend toward increased obesity rates in adolescents continues, there are similiar increases in the percentage of children being educated in inclusive settings. The purpose...
The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a disability awareness unit implemented into secondary level physical education curricula, on acceptance and knowledge of students without disabilities. One hundred twelve students in the 7th and 8th grades participated in this study. Predetermined classes of students were randomly...