An Analysis of the Physical Activity of Special Olympic Athletes with the Use of an Accelerometer
| Authors | |
|---|---|
| Year of publication | 2014 |
| Type | Article in Periodical |
| Magazine / Source | Journal of US-China Medical Science |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| Doi | http://dx.doi.org/10.17265/1548-6648/2014.04.002 |
| Field | Sport and leisure time activities |
| Keywords | mental disability; physical activity; energy expenditure; steps; accelerometer. |
| Description | Background: Studies indicate that people with a mental disability are less engaged in physical activity than their peers. The published data was mainly collected from oral feedback and the measurements taken from the use of pedometers. People with a mental disability engage in different types of physical activity, not only walking. The intention of this study was to assess physical activity using an accelerometer during a Special Olympics competition. Objective: To measure the physical activity of athletes with a mental disability during the Special Olympics national program using an accelerometer and to analyze the level of physical activity in relation to different disciplines, and in accordance with the gender of the participants. Methods: 75 athletes with a mental disability (50 males and 25 females) wore a GT3X ActiGraph to record their physical activity levels for two days during the Athletics Games in Olomouc, Czech Republic. Results: (1) The physical activity levels of the athletes met the published guidelines; (2) athletes who participated in both track and field events do not have higher energy expenditure than those participating only in field events; (3) athletes with a greater sporting ability are more physically active; (4) male athletes do not have a higher physical activity level. Conclusion: Regarding the level of physical activity, the local Special Olympic program is beneficial for people with a mental disability. |