Physical activity of children with and without long-term illness or disability

We know very little about physical activity in children with long-term illness or disability compared with those children without disabilities. Previous studies indicate low physical activity levels among all adolescents. The sample consisted of Canadian (n = 2720) and Finnish pupils (n = 3459) appr...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of physical activity & health 2011-11, Vol.8 (8), p.1066-1073
Main Authors: Rintala, Pauli, Välimaa, Raili, Tynjälä, Jorma, Boyce, Will, King, Matt, Villberg, Jari, Kannas, Lasse
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adolescent Behavior
Canada - epidemiology
Children & youth
Chronic Disease - epidemiology
Chronic Disease - rehabilitation
Cross-Cultural Comparison
Cross-Sectional Studies
Disability
Disabled Children - rehabilitation
Disabled Children - statistics & numerical data
Exercise
Female
Finland - epidemiology
Health Behavior
Humans
Mainstreaming (Education)
Male
Motor Activity
Sex Factors
Surveys and Questionnaires
Citations: Items that cite this one
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Summary:We know very little about physical activity in children with long-term illness or disability compared with those children without disabilities. Previous studies indicate low physical activity levels among all adolescents. The sample consisted of Canadian (n = 2720) and Finnish pupils (n = 3459) approximately 13.5 and 15.5 years of age in general (mainstreamed) education. The study is a part of the Health Behavior in School-aged Children (HBSC) study. Nationally representative data were collected in 2002 using a standardized questionnaire. The moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity screening measure was used. Approximately one-fifth of the pupils in both countries had a long-term disability, illness or medical condition. In both countries boys and girls with a long-term illness or disability were equally physically inactive, and adolescents with a long-term illness or disability were as physically active as those without disabilities. There is no difference between young people with and without long-term illness/disability, and between boys and girls, in relation to their physical activity. However, all of them fall short of recommended guidelines. This indicates that promoting a physically active lifestyle should be of high priority in the lives of young people.
ISSN:1543-3080
1543-5474
DOI:10.1123/jpah.8.8.1066