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Background: The Canadian Assessment of Physical Literacy (CAPL) was conceptualized as a tool to monitor children's physical literacy. The original model (fitness, activity behavior, knowledge, motor skill) required revision and relative weights for calculating/interpreting scores were required. Methods: Nineteen childhood physical activity/fitness experts completed a 3-round Delphi process. Round 1 was open-ended questions. Subsequent rounds rated statements using a 5-point Likert scale. Recommendations were sought regarding protocol inclusion, relative importance within composite scores and score interpretation. Results: Delphi participant consensus was achieved for 64% (47/73) of statement topics, including a revised conceptual model, specific assessment protocols, the importance of longitudinal tracking, and the relative importance of individual protocols and composite scores. Divergent opinions remained regarding the inclusion of sleep time, assessment/ scoring of the obstacle course assessment of motor skill, and the need for an overall physical literacy classification. Conclusions: The revised CAPL model (overlapping domains of physical competence, motivation, and knowledge, encompassed by daily behavior) is appropriate for monitoring the physical literacy of children aged 8 to 12 years. Objectively measured domains (daily behavior, physical competence) have higher relative importance. The interpretation of CAPL results should be reevaluated as more data become available. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined gender, disability type, age, and specific diagnostic category in relation to habitual physical activity levels (HPA), perceived fitness (PF), and perceived participation limitations (PPL) of youths, ages 6 to 20 years, in Ontario, Canada. Data collected through a mailed survey (Longmuir & Bar-Or, 1994) were reanalyzed using ANOVA and chi square statistics to provide new information. The 458 girls and 499 boys were classified by disability type: physical, chronic medical, visual, and hearing. Significant differences (p < .01) were between (a) HPA and disability type, specific diagnostic category, and age: (b) PF and disability type; and (c) PPL and disability type. Gender did not influence the results. Youths with cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, and visual impairment had the most sedentary lifestyles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An arm ergometer analog of the Canadian Aerobic Fitness Test (CAFT) has been proposed for subjects with impairments of mobility (Longmuir & Shephard, 1995). Because of muscle weakness or spasm, only 63% of the adults concerned could maintain the required cadence in the original test version. Thus, in the present study it was hypothesized that a reduced crank loading would yield a higher success rate. In a sample of 35 adults with mobility impairment, 82% were able to complete at least one stage of the modified lest. Difficulty was encountered mainly by persons with cerebral palsy or multiple sclerosis. The revised protocol had a high (r = .97) 1-week test/retest reliability, with no test/retest bias except that subjects with brain lesions scored somewhat higher at their second assessment. A scaled prediction of peak oxygen intake using the standard CAFT equation agreed closely with direct arm ergometer determinations of it. The modified test showed a mean discrepancy ±SD of 0.1 ± 4.8 ml/[kg · min). Further validation is needed, but the current analog of the standard CAFT appears to be useful for many with mobility impairments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Arm CAFT is a simple submaximal arm ergometer lest for subjects with mobility disabilities, designed to match the Canadian Aerobic Fitness Test (CAFT) in both administration and interpretation. It is here evaluated relative to direct arm ergometer measurements of peak oxygen intake in 41 men and women with mobility disabilities, aged 20-60, who were attending an "integrated" sports facility. Peak oxygen intake was predicted using the original CAFT equation, but the oxygen cost of arm ergometer test stages was substituted and predictions were scaled downward by 70/100 to allow for the lower peak aerobic power of the upper limbs. In 16 subjects who maintained cranking cadence, predictions were reliable over 1 week, with a small increase of score at the second test. Although the Arm CAFT protocol is reliable and free of bias, it has only a limited validity, and only a minority of the stronger individuals with mobility disabilities can sustain the required cranking rhythm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To date, very little published information has been available on the physical activity participation of disabled youth. A questionnaire, which was modified from the Canada Fitness Survey, was distributed by mail to physically disabled, sensory impaired, and chronically ill children and adolescents in Ontario, Canada. Nine hundred eighty-seven responses were collected from subjects 6 to 20 years of age, with a response rate of 58%. Twenty-nine percent of physically challenged youth were found to be sedentary, and 39% were active. Activity levels were significantly related to age (p < .01), with a marked decline in the second decade of life. Activity levels were not significantly influenced by gender, but the data suggest that girls have lower activity levels and a faster and earlier decline in activity than boys. Overall, the data collected provide baseline information on the role of physical activity in the lives of Ontario youth with physical disabilities, sensory impairments, and chronic illnesses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Motor development delays among children with complex congenital heart defects have been attributed to cardiopulmonary bypass exposure. In healthy children, motor skill deficits are associated with sedentary lifestyles. This study evaluated the associations between motor development and physical activity among young children with simple and complex heart defects. Methods: Children 12 to 47 months were recruited through two tertiary pediatric cardiac clinics. Assessments were the Peabody Motor Development Scale and daily physical activity via omnidirectional accelerometer. Children ≥36 months also completed the Test of Gross Motor Development--2. Medical chart review determined total days of hospitalization and cardiopulmonary bypass exposure. Results: 141 toddlers (75 males (53%)), varying from 12 to 51 months in age (mean 30.9 ± 11.0 mos) were enrolled in 5 study groups: innocent murmur (n=30), congenital heart defect (CHD) not requiring treatment (n=40), CHD repaired without surgery (N=20), surgical repair of CHD without cardiopulmonary bypass (n=15), or surgical CHD repair with bypass (n=36). Peabody object manipulation scores were significantly below (95% CI of difference: -0.4, -1.1; p<.001) and visual motor scores above (95% CI of difference: 0.1, 1.1; p=0.02) normative values. TGMD locomotor (95% CI of difference: 0.7, 2.3; p<0.001) and object manipulation (95% CI of difference: 0.4, 1.8; p=0.001) scores were above published norms (n=58). Children performed 135 ± 48 minutes of physical activity, any intensity, daily (range: 8 to 289 mins). Visual motor scores were higher in CHD without repair and surgery without bypass groups (Model R2 = 0.32, p<.001). No other between group differences occurred. No significant associations occurred between hospital length of stay (none, ≤ 10 days, > 10 days), daily physical activity and motor development. Discussion: Children treated in the current surgical era are not at risk for motor development delays from cardiopulmonary bypass exposure or extended hospital stays. Overall measures of motor development are similar to published norms. Low object manipulation scores among all study participants (Peabody) were not apparent when older children were assessed on more complex motor skills (TGMD-2). Young children with CHD have the skills needed for physical activity. The reason for their limited participation remains unknown. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Canadian Physical Activity Guidelines recommend children accumulate 60+ minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity daily. Currently only 7% of healthy Canadian children meet these guidelines. The purpose of this study, which was in conjunction with the YMCA-YWCA of the National Capital Region, was to investigate the physical activity knowledge impact of the Y Kids Academy, a citywide course aimed at improving the proportion of Canadian children that meet the Canadian Physical Activity Guidelines. Methods: Grade 6 children were eligible to enroll in the Y Kids Academy, which took place at YMCA-YWCA centres across the National Capital Region. Before attending Y Kids, each child completed the Canadian Assessment of Physical Literacy (CAPL), which measured physical literacy motivation, physical competence, knowledge and behavior. CAPL scores were compared to data for 3000 Canadian children to evaluate baseline physical literacy among Y Kids participants. Participants were also assessed using the Y Kids questionnaire, which evaluated course knowledge before (Baseline), after (1st follow up), and five months after completing the Y Kids Academy course (2nd follow up). Results: 163 children (73 female, 45%), 9 to 14 years of age (mean 11.1 years ± 0.82) were enrolled in the study. At baseline, CAPL scores were similar (p=0.99) between Y Kids participants (mean score 62.41 ±11.8) and Canadian children (60.70 ± 11.8). Y Kids knowledge increased (p<0.001) from baseline (mean score 10.39 ± 5.4) to end of course (12.73 ± 6.5). Five months after course completion, knowledge remained above baseline (mean difference 2.69 ± 5.2, p=0.03) and was unchanged from the post-course assessment (0.00 ± 5.7, p=0.5). Discussion: The physical literacy of children enrolled in the Y Kids Academy was not significantly different from Canadian reference data, indicating that the Y Kids Academy was appealing to children with higher and lower physical literacy. The Y Kids Academy effectively increases the physical activity knowledge of older children and young adolescents, an improvement sustained over 5 months, even among those with limited knowledge, motivation, physical competence or daily physical activity behavior. Future research should investigate the impact of Y Kids participation on these other aspects of physical literacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]