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The purpose of this study was to investigate in-service physical education (PE) teachers' experiences during online adapted physical education (APE) graduate courses. Based on andragogy theory (adult learning theory) we employed a descriptive qualitative methodology using an explanatory case study design. The participants (6 female and 3 male) were in-service PE teachers enrolled in an online graduate APE endorsement program. Data collection included journal reflection reports and face-to-face interviews. A constant comparative method was used to interpret the data. Three interrelated themes emerged from the participants' narratives. The first theme, instructor communication, exposes the advantages and disadvantages the participants perceived regarding communication while enrolled in the online APE graduate courses. The second theme, bulletin board discussion experiences, described participants' perceptions of the use of the bulletin board discussion forum. Lastly, the final theme, assessment experiences, described how the participants learned knowledge and skills through online courses related to assessment and evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our purpose in this study was to document the criterion validity of the Fitbit Zip for measuring steps taken by youth with visual impairments (VI). A secondary purpose was to determine whether walking pace, mounting position, or relative position to the user's mobility device impacted the criterion validity of the device. Fourteen adolescent-aged individuals (Mage = 15.4; 13 male and 1 female) with VI participated in this study. Participants wore four Fitbit Zips at different mounting positions and completed two, 2-min walking trials while the lead investigator hand tallied steps. Measurement validity was analyzed using absolute percent error (APE), intraclass correlation coefficients estimated level of conformity, and paired samples t tests and Cohen's d effect sizes assessed APE relative to mounting positions. Results supported the use of the Fitbit Zip during regular-paced walking; however, caution must be used during activities exceeding regular walking speeds, as devices consistently underestimated steps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to examine (a) discrete and integrative associations of physical activity (PA), sitting-time (ST), and sleep duration (SD) with health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among adults with visual impairments (VIs) and (b) the role that comorbidities play in the association between PA, ST, and SD and HRQoL among adults with VIs. This cross-sectional study utilized an online survey methodology. A sample of 195 adults with VIs were recruited from two VI-related listservs in the U.S. from June to September of 2019, and they completed a battery of self-reported measures. Meeting SD, PA, and ST guidelines were positive predictors for HRQoL. The number of reported comorbidities was as a significant negative predictor for HRQoL. The number of comorbidities did not moderate the association between meeting movement guidelines and HRQoL. Adjusting for gender and number of comorbidities, analysis of covariance showed that individuals meeting all three guidelines had significantly higher HRQoL than those meeting none or SD guideline alone. The results demonstrate the discrete and integrative HRQoL-related benefits of meeting three movement behavior guidelines for adults with VIs. The existence of comorbid conditions did not moderate this relationship. Adults with visual impairments (VIs) tend to report poorer health-related quality of life (HRQoL) than those without VIs. In our sample, participants who met all three of the physical activity (PA), sitting-time, and sleep guidelines had significantly higher HRQoL than those meeting none or the sleep guideline alone. Mechanisms to disseminate movement guidelines and associated benefits are needed to promote guideline adherence to adults with VIs. Rehabilitation professionals should design and implement multi-behavior programs to promote adherence to PA, screen-time, and sleep duration guidelines to enhance HRQoL among adults with VIs, including those experiencing comorbid conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purposes of this study were to (a) examine the three-year longitudinal growth trends of cardiorespiratory fitness among middle school students, and (b) examine the associations between individual and school-level socio-demographic variables and middle school student cardiorespiratory fitness performance. Methods: A longitudinal multilevel analysis design was used. Participants were adolescents (N = 44,801; 48.1% girls) from 33 middle schools in an Eastern U.S. state. The grand mean age for the participants was 12.42 ± 0.98 years old. Individual-level variables included grade (testing year), sex, and the 15-m Progressive Aerobic Cardiovascular Endurance Run (PACER) performance, which was measured annually for 3 years. School-level variables included the percentage of students receiving a free and reduced-price meal, student-faculty ratio for physical education, and school-level academic performance. Results: A three-level hierarchical linear model was used to model the longitudinal performance change across 3 years accounting for individual and school-level factors. A quadratic growth curve was identified in PACER performance changes, with a positive first-order coefficient (β = 3.05) and a negative second-order coefficient (β =−0.82) overall. Sex was significantly associated with PACER changes (p <.01), with boys and girls having divergent longitudinal growth curves. School-level academic performance was positively associated with PACER performance; however, the association was not statistically significant. Conclusion: Results indicate that although cardiorespiratory fitness improved across years, on average, performance did not keep up with healthy fitness zone recommendations. In addition, sex-based discrepancies were evident as boys and girls demonstrated different quadratic growth curves in cardiorespiratory fitness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]