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Adapted Physical Activity

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Adapted Physical Activity (APA) is a type of physical activity that is modified or designed to meet the needs of individuals with disabilities.[1] The term originated in the field of physical education and is commonly used in the field of physical education and rehabilitation to refer to physical activities and exercises that have been modified or adapted for individuals with disabilities. These activities are often led by trained professionals, such as adapted physical educators, occupational therapists, or physical therapists.[2][3]

In 1973 the Federation Internationale de lʼ Activite Physique Adaptee (International Federation of Adapted Physical Activity - IFAPA) was formed and is described as a discipline/profession that purpose to facilitates physical activity across people with a wide range of individual differences, emphasizing in empowerment, self-determination and opportunities access.[4][5][6]

A common definition of APA is "a cross-disciplinary body of practical and theoretical knowledge directed toward impairments, activity limitations, and participation restrictions in physical activity. It is a service delivery profession and an academic field of study that supports an attitude of acceptance of individual differences, advocates access to active lifestyles and sport, and promotes innovative and cooperative service delivery, supports, and empowerment. Adapted physical activity includes, but is not limited to, physical education, sport, recreation, dance, creative arts, nutrition, medicine, and rehabilitation."[7] This definition aligns with the World Health Organization International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health whereby disability is seen as the interaction between impairments or conditions with activity limitations, participation restrictions and contextual factors.[8]

Overview[edit]

The term APA has evolved in the course of years, and in some countries could be recognized with alternative terms that contain a similar set of constructs, for example, sports for disabled people, sports therapy, and psychomotor therapy.[9] The APA is considered as (i) activities or service delivery, (ii) a profession, and (iii) an academic field of study with a unique body of knowledge that differs from terms such as adapted physical education or para-sport.[10] Principally, APA is an umbrella term that incorporates the mentioned terms considered sub-specializations (i.e., physical education, para-sports, recreation, and rehabilitation).[9] APA is proposed to have close links between the field of practice and the field of study with unique theories and growing bodies of practical and scientific knowledge,[9] where APA practitioners are those who provide the services and activities, while APA scholars generate and promote evidence-based research practices among practitioners.[11]

Adaptation to physical activity opportunities is most often provided in the form of appropriately designed and modified equipment (prosthesis, wheelchairs, mono-ski, ball size), task criteria (e.g., modifying skill quality criteria or using a different skill), instructions (e.g., using personal supports, peer tutors, non-verbal instructions, motivational strategies), physical and social environments (e.g., increasing or decreasing court dimensions; segregated vs. inclusive; type of training climate: mastery-oriented, collaborative or competitive social environment; degree of peer and parental support), and rules (e.g., double bounce rule in wheelchair tennis).[12] In general, the APA presents various sub-specializations such as physical education (e.g., inclusion in physical education, attention to students with special needs, development of new education contents), sports (e.g., development of paralympic sports, activity by sports federations for athletes with disabilities), recreation (e.g., development of the inclusive sport approach and attitudes change programs), and rehabilitation (e.g., physical activity programs in rehabilitation centers, involvement of health-related professionals).[9][10]

Two people (one in a wheelchair) in a practice of karate.
The image represents the practice activity in the field of Adapted Physical Activity (APA).
The image represents research activity in the field of Adapted Physical Activity (APA)

The role of sports and physical activity participation in the population with disabilities has been recognized as a human right in the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and declared in other international organization agreements such as:

  • International Charter of Physical Education, Physical Activity and Sport (UNESCO).
  • International Conference of Ministers and Senior Officials Responsible for Physical Education and Sport (MINEPS).
  • Marseille Declaration, Universal Fitness Innovation & Transformation - UFIT Launch October 2015. A Commitment to Inclusion by and for the Global Fitness Industry.
  • Sustainable Development Goals, Sports and Physical Activity, United Nations (UN).

In this line, the APA as a discipline/profession plays an essential role in addressing the needs from a theoretical and practical framework to provide full participation access in physical activity to populations with disabilities.[13]

There are many educational programmes offered around the world that specialise in APA, including disability sports, adapted sports, rehabilitation, adapted physical education and parasport management. In Europe there is the European Diploma of Adapted Physical Activity[14] for bachelor's degrees. At the master's degree level, there is the International Masters in Adapted Physical Activity[15] and the master's degree in Adapted Physical Activity offered by the Lithuanian Sports University.[16] A doctoral programme in adapted physical activity can be studied through the Multi-Institution Mentorship Consortium (MAMC).[17] Furthermore, there is offered a Master of Adapted Physical Education in the North American region in Oregon State University (USA).[18] In the South American Region, the San Sebastian University (Chile) offers a Master of Physical Activity and Adapted Sports.[19] The universities Viña del Mar[20] and UMCE[21] in Chile offers a specialization in adapted physical activity.

International Federation of Adapted Physical Activity[edit]

The International Federation of Adapted Physical Activity (IFAPA) is an international scientific organization of higher education scholars, practitioners and students dedicated to promoting APA.[22] IFAPA was founded in 1973 in Quebec, Canada, presenting an original purpose declared "to give global focus to professionals who use adapted physical activities for instruction, recreation, remediation, and research". From these initial times, IFAPA evolved from a small organization to an international corporation with active regional federations in different world regions.[23]

The current purpose of IFAPA are:[24]

  • To encourage international cooperation in the field of physical activity to the benefit of individuals of all abilities,
  • to promote, stimulate and support research in the field of adapted physical activity throughout the world,
  • and to make scientific knowledge of and practical experiences in adapted physical activity available to all interested persons, organizations and institutions.

IFAPA coordinates national, regional, and international functions (both governmental and nongovernmental) that pertain to sport, dance, aquatics, exercise, fitness, and wellness for individuals of all ages with disabilities or special needs. IFAPA is linked with several other international governing bodies, including the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), Special Olympics International and the International Council of Sport Science and Physical Education (ICSSPE). English is the language used for IFAPA correspondence, conferences.

Professor David Legg from Mount Royal University is the current President of the International Federation of Adapted Physical Activity (IFAPA) since 2019 at the International Symposium of Adapted Physical Activity (ISAPA) hosted by IFAPA Past President Martin Block at the University of Virginia.

Professor David Legg current President of the International Federation of Adapted Physical Activity (IFAPA)

The biennial ISAPA scheduled for 2021 was planned to be held at the University of Jyväskylä, Finland.[25] Due to the COVID-19 pandemic it was later announced to be held online only,[26] making it the first Online ISAPA since the first one in 1977.[27] The 2023 ISAPA was awarded to a multi-site organisation by Halberg Foundation in New Zealand and Mooven in France.[28]

Regions[edit]

  • Africa - no formal organisation
  • Asia - Asian society of adapted physical education - ASAPE[29]
  • Europe - European Federation of Adapted Physical Activity - EUFAPA[30]
  • Middle East - Middle East Federation of Adapted Physical Activity - MEFAPA
  • North America - North American Federation of Adapted Physical Activity - NAFAPA[31]
  • Oceania - no formal organisation
  • South and Central America - South American Federation of Adapted Physical Activity - SAPA[32]

Research and Dissemination in Adapted Physical Activity[edit]

European Journal of Adapted Physical Activity

Actually, it is possible to find numerous sports science journals with research papers on adapted sport, while those specific to APA are lesser. It should be noted that Adapted Physical Activity Quarterly (APAQ) is the only AFA-specific journal indexed in the Journal Citation Reports Index, appearing in both the Sport Sciences and Rehabilitation directories, which is another example of its interdisciplinarity (Impact Score 2020-2021 = 2.61) (Pérez et al., 2012).[33] Additionally, the European Journal of Adapted Physical Activity (EUJAPA) is another international, multidisciplinary journal introduced to communicate, share and stimulate academic inquiry focusing on APA of persons with disabilities, appearing in the Education directories of Scimago Journal & Country Rank (SJR). Regarding the dissemination of scientific knowledge generated by the APA, the most relevant international events are described as follows:

  • International Symposium of Adapted Physical Activity (ISAPA), organized by IFAPA on a biannual basis.
  • Vista conference, organized by the International Paralympic Committee on a biannual basis.
  • Paralympic Congress, organized by the International Paralympic Committee every four years.
  • European Conference on Adapted Physical Activity (EUCAPA), organized by European Federation in Adapted Physical Activity on a biannual basis.
  • North American Federation of Adapted Physical Activity (NAFAPA) Conference, organized by NAFAPA on a biannual basis.
  • South American Adapted Physical Activity Conference, organized by South American Federation of Adapted Physical Activity.

Adapted Physical Education[edit]

The image represents activities with students with disabilities associated to the Adapted Physical Education field

Adapted physical education is a sub-discipline of physical education with a focus on including students with disabilities into the subject.[34] APE is the term used to refer to the physical education for individuals with disabilities that occurs primarily in elementary and secondary schools.[5] According to Dunn and Leitschuh[35] APE is defined as "Adapted physical education programs are those that have the same objectives as the regular physical education program but in which adjustments are made in the regular offerings to meet the needs and abilities of exceptional students". This education can be provided in separate educational settings as well as in general (regular) educational settings.[36] APE is oriented to educate students to lifelong engagement in physical activities and to live a healthy lifestyle offering possibilities to exploit movements, games, and sports and at the same time personal development.[37] Goals and objectives of adapted and general physical education might be the same with some minor differences. For example, learning to push a wheelchair or play wheelchair basketball might be a goal for a child with a spinal cord injury, while running and playing regular basketball is a goal for a child with a disability. In other cases, a child with a disability might focus on fewer objectives or modified objectives within a domain (e.g., physical fitness) compared to peers without disabilities.[34]

Parasport or Disability Sport[edit]

Para-archery athlete competing

The APA in this field is oriented principally to the Parasports movement, which organises sports for and by people with disabilities. Examples of para-sports organizations include sports in the Paralympic Games, Special Olympics, Deaflympics as well as Invictus games to name a few. Many para-sports have eligibility criteria according to the characteristics of the participants. In the Paralympics Games, this is known as sport classification, a system that provides a framework for determining who can and who cannot participate according to the impact of the impairments on the outcome of the competition.[38][39]

In the Special Olympics individuals eligible have to meet the following criteria

  • be at least 8 years old
  • have been identified by an agency or professional as having one of the following conditions: intellectual disabilities, cognitive delays (as measured by formal assessment), or significant learning or vocational problems due to cognitive delay that require specially designed instruction.[40]

Another sporting competition for people with intellectual impairments is the Virtus Games (formerly known as International Sports Federation for Persons with Intellectual Disability. This is different from the Special Olympics. Eligibility is based on a master list of

  • II 1 Intellectual Disability
  • II 2 Significant Intectuall Disability
  • II 3 Austism[41]

To be eligible to compete at the Deaflympics, athletes must have a hearing loss of at least 55 decibels in the better ear.[42] The Invictus Games were designed to allow sport competitions between wounded, injured or sick servicemen and women (WIS).[43] Therefore, only people in the military sectors can compete in the Invictus games.

Physical medicine and rehabiltiation[edit]

Adapted Physical Activity in the rehabilitation process of people with disabilities

The results from APA can help the practice of Physical medicine and rehabilitation, whereby the functional ability and quality of life is improved.[44] Rehabilitation is helping the individual achieve the highest level of functioning, independence, participation, and quality of life possible. The APA and sport in rehabilitation for individuals with disabilities is particularly important and is associated with the legacy of the medical rehabilitation specialist Sir Ludwig Guttman who was the founder of the International Stoke Mandeville Games Federation, the basis of the actual Paralympic movement.[45] APA and sports are strongly recommended in rehabilitation programs due to the positive impact and health benefits in people with different disabilities. The APA practitioner provides exercise and training regimens adapted for specific individual needs and works based on the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health of the World Health Organization, facilitating a common language with other rehabilitation professionals during the rehabilitation process.[45]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ↑ "Adapted Physical Activity - Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation". University of Alberta. Retrieved May 14, 2023.
  2. ↑ "What is APA". IFAPA. May 25, 2014. Retrieved May 14, 2023.
  3. ↑ "Adapted Physical Activity". Liikuntatieteellinen tiedekunta - Jyväskylän yliopisto. April 5, 2018. Retrieved May 14, 2023.
  4. ↑ Silva, Carla Filomena; Howe, P. David (1 January 2012). "Difference, Adapted Physical Activity and Human Development: Potential Contribution of Capabilities Approach". Adapted Physical Activity Quarterly. 29 (1): 25–43. doi:10.1123/apaq.29.1.25. PMID 22190052.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 DePauw, Karen P.; Doll-Tepper, Gudrun M. (1 April 1989). "European Perspectives on Adapted Physical Activity". Adapted Physical Activity Quarterly. 6 (2): 95–99. doi:10.1123/apaq.6.2.95.
  6. ↑ Hutzler, Yeshayahu; Sherrill, Claudine (January 2007). "Hutzler & Sherrill, 2007". Adapted Physical Activity Quarterly. 24 (1): 1–20. doi:10.1123/apaq.24.1.1. PMID 17703059. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  7. ↑ "IFAPA Definition". IFAPA. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  8. ↑ "WHO". WHO. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 Hutzler, Yeshayahu; Sherrill, Claudine (1 January 2007). "Defining Adapted Physical Activity: International Perspectives". Adapted Physical Activity Quarterly. 24 (1): 1–20. doi:10.1123/apaq.24.1.1. PMID 17703059.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Reina, R. (2014). "Adapted Physical Activity: The journey to Ithaca goes ahead". RICYDE: Revista Internacional de Ciencias del Deporte. 10 (37): 281–284. doi:10.5232/ricyde2014.037.
  11. ↑ Hutzler, Yeshayahu; Hellerstein, Devora (1 April 2016). "Adapted Versus Adaptive Physical Activity". Adapted Physical Activity Quarterly. 33 (2): 109–112. doi:10.1123/APAQ.2016-0027. PMID 27078267.
  12. ↑ Sherrill, C.; Hutzler, Y. (2008). Adapted physical activity science. In Directory of sport science (5th ed.). pp. 90–103. Search this book on
  13. ↑ Ginis, Kathleen A. Martin; Ploeg, Hidde P. van der; Foster, Charlie; Lai, Byron; McBride, Christopher B.; Ng, Kwok; Pratt, Michael; Shirazipour, Celina H.; Smith, Brett; Vásquez, Priscilla M.; Heath, Gregory W. (31 July 2021). "Participation of people living with disabilities in physical activity: a global perspective". The Lancet. 398 (10298): 443–455. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(21)01164-8. PMID 34302764 Check |pmid= value (help). Unknown parameter |s2cid= ignored (help)
  14. ↑ "EUDAPA". Haaga Helia. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  15. ↑ "IMAPA". KU Leuven. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  16. ↑ "MDAPA". KU Leuven. 28 January 2020. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  17. ↑ "MAMC". MAMC. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  18. ↑ "Master of Adapted Physical Education". College of Public Health and Human Sciences. 24 December 2018.
  19. ↑ "MAGÍSTER EN ACTIVIDAD FÍSICA Y DEPORTE ADAPTADO | Uss postgrado" (in español). 25 January 2018.
  20. ↑ Universidad Viña del Mar (UVM). "Diplomado en Actividad Física y Deportes Adaptados a Personas en Situación de Discapacidad » Universidad Viña del Mar (UVM)". Universidad Viña del Mar (UVM) (in español).
  21. ↑ "Diplomado en Actividad física, deporte e inclusión". econtinua (in español).
  22. ↑ "about IFAPA". IFAPA. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  23. ↑ Reid, G. (2016). "The International Federation of Adapted Physical Activity: Historical Perspectives Part 2". Palaestra. 30 (1).
  24. ↑ "About IFAPA". IFAPA.
  25. ↑ "ISAPA 2021 goes to Finland". IFAPA. 6 July 2018. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  26. ↑ "ISAPA 2021 Goes Online". 2 November 2020.
  27. ↑ "Symposia". IFAPA.
  28. ↑ "New Zealand and Mooven to co-organize the International Symposium on Adapted Physical Activity July 2023". 31 August 2020.
  29. ↑ http://www.asape.net/
  30. ↑ "European Federation of Adapted Physical Activity". European Federation of Adapted Physical Activity.
  31. ↑ "ABOUT NAFAPA". nafapa.
  32. ↑ https://fesafa.net/
  33. ↑ Pérez, J.; Reina, R.; Sanz, D. (2012). "Adapted Physical Activity for people with disability in Spain: scientific perspectives and current issues". CCD. Cultura_Ciencia_Deporte. 72 (21): 213-224. doi:10.12800/ccd.v7i21.86.
  34. ↑ 34.0 34.1 "APE definition". Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  35. ↑ Dunn, J.; Leitschuh, C. (2010). Special physical education. Kendall Hunt Publishing. Search this book on
  36. ↑ DePauw, K. (2020). Historical viewpoint in adapted physical education. In J. Haegele, S. Hodge, & D. R. Shapiro (Eds.), Routledge Handbook of Adapted Physical Education. Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group. Search this book on
  37. ↑ Kirch, Alina; Schnitzius, Melina; Spengler, Sarah; Blaschke, Simon; Mess, Filip (2021). "Knowing Students' Characteristics: Opportunities to Adapt Physical Education Teaching". Frontiers in Psychology. 12: 31. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2021.619944. PMC 7907514 Check |pmc= value (help). PMID 33643149 Check |pmid= value (help).
  38. ↑ Tweedy, Sean M.; Connick, Mark J.; Beckman, Emma M. (1 May 2018). "Applying Scientific Principles to Enhance Paralympic Classification Now and in the Future: A Research Primer for Rehabilitation Specialists". Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Clinics of North America. 29 (2): 313–332. doi:10.1016/j.pmr.2018.01.010. PMID 29627091.
  39. ↑ "IPC Classification - Paralympic Categories & Classifications".
  40. ↑ "Frequently Asked Questions". www.specialolympics.org. August 7, 2018.
  41. ↑ "Eligibility Master List".
  42. ↑ "Eligibility and classification | sportanddev.org". www.sportanddev.org.
  43. ↑ "Frequently asked questions – Invictus Games Foundation".
  44. ↑ "EUSAPA". EUSAPA. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  45. ↑ 45.0 45.1 Hutzler, Y. (2010). "International Encyclopedia of Rehabilitation Adapted Physical Activity and Sport in Rehabilitation".


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