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Sport for development (SFD) initiatives have faced numerous criticisms around the focus on individual-level (micro) outcomes and lack of integration at the community (meso) and structural (macro) levels. As a result, there is growing recognition that programmes need to find ways to work with and engage a wide range of community members and stakeholders through more inclusive, participatory approaches. One such approach is known as Living Labs. In the following conceptual article, we present the Sport and Social Cohesion Lab (SSCL) project, which implemented a Living Lab approach in various sport-based programmes from four different European countries. The main components of the Living Lab framework are presented, and practical insights are derived from the project. In addition, the unique and sometimes critical role of sport is reflected upon in relation to the Living Lab context. Through this, this article provides practitioners and academics with potential building blocks to implement Living Labs and/or embed participatory approaches in sport and physical activity contexts and social settings more generally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of the study was to determine and compare the attitudes of high school students of the non-inclusive school towards inclusive physical education according to gender. This study deepened the knowledge about the students’ attitudes toward the inclusion of students with physical and intellectual disabilities. The research sample comprised a total of 181 able-bodied high school students (56 boys and 125 girls) attending one non-inclusive high school in Bratislava, Slovakia. Modified Czech version of the CAIPE (Children’s Attitude toward Inclusive Physical Education) questionnaire was used as a primary research method. Girls presented higher levels of positive attitudes towards inclusive physical education (IPE) in goal achievement, motivation, and motor skills learning. Boys showed a higher level of positive attitudes in the self-confidence of students with disabilities through IPE. In the goal achievement, girls expressed a significantly higher positive attitude towards IPE in students with intellectual disabilities inclusion (U = 2817, p = 0.029, r = 0.168). The highest level of a positive attitude toward IPE declared both genders by society inclusion and the lowest level of positive attitude by motor skills acquisition. Slovak students of a non-inclusive high school showed a positive attitude toward IPE for the inclusion of pupils with physical as well as intellectual disabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of the study was to analyse subjective perception of the quality of life (QOL) among men with physical disabilities with different sport participation level throughout quality of life indicators/domains satisfaction and overall QOL. Three groups of men with physical disabilities (n = 130) categorised by the level of sport participation were recruited for the study: elite athletes (n=26), recreational athletes (n = 45) and non-athletes (n = 59). The Subjective Quality of Life Analysis questionnaire and the WHOQOL User Manual were used as a primary research method. The highest subjective perception of life quality declares men elite athletes and the lowest non-athletes. Elite athletes are significantly more satisfied in their lives with domains Physical health/level of independence and Environment, indicators Sleep, Work, Leisure activities, Safety and overall QOL than non-athletes. No significant differences were found in subjective perception of life quality between men recreational athletes and non-athletes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to analyse the level of subjective well-being (SWB) through five SWB dimensions and compare it between healthy male and healthy female high school students preferring sedentary leisure time activities. The research sample comprised of 90 male high school students (mean age 16.72 ± 1.33) and 126 female high school students (mean age 16.71 ± 1.36) who preferred sedentary types of leisure time activities with self-reported good health status. A standardized The Bern Subjective Well-Being Questionnaire for Adolescents (BFW) was used as a primary research method. We found significantly higher level of positive SWB dimension (U = 4281, p = 0.002, r = 172) and significantly lower level of negative SWB dimension (U = 2835, p = 0.000, r = 424) in the group of male high school students with self-reported good health status in comparison to female high school students. Parents should be involved in the selection of their children's leisure time activities, so it should not have only the sedentary character but also sport leisure time activities, mainly among young girls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Dehydration is the most common fluid and electrolyte problem among elderly people. The elderly leading an active lifestyle may be a risk group vulnerable to dehydration. Objective: The goals of the study were: to assess hydration status and the fluid intake, to determine gender differences in hydration status and fluid intake, and to determine the role of physical activity on hydration status in free-living elderly people. Methods: The research sample included 105 participants aged 67.2 ± 3.7 years (52% women) living independently in their own homes. Urine specific gravity (USG) was used to evaluate the hydration status (dehydration was defined as USG = 1.020 and serious dehydration as USG > 1.030). A 4-day food record was used to monitor fluid intake, and the International Physical Activity Questionnaires - Short Form was used to assess physical activity. Results: The prevalence of dehydration was 45.7% with a lower prevalence in women. Serious dehydration was prevalent in two participants. Average daily beverage intake was 1144.4 ± 445.2 ml. There was no gender difference in total fluid intake. However, only 27.3% of women and 4.0% of men fulfilled the recommended daily fluid intake. Participants with moderate or high levels of physical activity had a better hydration status compared to their low-physical activity peers. Conclusions: These results indicate that almost half of elderly adults are dehydrated. The study suggests that being physically active can contribute to better fluid replenishment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quality of life (QOL) of persons with disabilities has recently become focus of studies in various academic disciplines There is 250-500 thousands new cases of spinal cord injury annually, with majority being caused by accidents. Spinal cord injury (SCI) makes significant impact on person's lives as only one third of persons with SCI are able to return to jobs they did prior to acquiring SCI and majority of them cannot return to the hobbies or sports. The purpose of this study was to show the effect of sport participation in wheelchair rugby on QOL of persons with spinal cord injury. Twenty male wheelchair rugby players - athletes with tetraplegia, who are engages in regular organized physical activity - wheelchair rugby training and competition (mean age = 32.50, SD = 8.46). Sixteen persons with tetraplegia (all males) who were not actively engaging in sports - not participating in an organized physical activity (mean age = 39.44, SD = 7.44). While results of wheelchair rugby players were higher in all four domains of QOL, the only significant difference was found in domain one focusing on perceived physical health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Efficiently maximising sporting performances through structuring of training sessions has become a very important focus over the past twenty years. Very little study directly related to boccia exists for athletes with cerebral palsy (CP) and consequently information on performance measures is scarce. The aim of study was to measure the effect of blocked versus random training schedules on boccia skills performance. Fourteen experienced national-level athletes with CP (M = 23.6 years) participated in this study. Athletes were divided in two intervention groups and followed prescribed blocked (n = seven athletes) and random (n = seven athletes) training schedules for 10 weeks. Data collection included pre- and post-tests original testing procedures. Two paired-samples Wilcoxon Signed Rank tests and a Mann-Whitney U test only generated statistically significant evidence to support blocked training (z = 2.29, p = 0.02, CI.90 = 9.50, 22.50). Despite this, findings and individual cases of improvements plus athletes and coaches remarks indicated a practical significance towards blocked training schedules over random training schedules in terms of improving boccia skills performance. Greater gains across all three boccia skills measured and in total mean difference between pre- and post-test were shown in favour of athletes following blocked training schedules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]