Walking with Purpose: Creating a Fitness Walking Program for Self-contained Physical Education Classes

The last several decades have seen an increase in both child and adult obesity trends worldwide (Afshin et al., 2017), and research indicates that obesity rates among children with disabilities [...]
Studies show that obesity rates among children with disabilities are significantly higher than children without disabilities (Neter et al., 2011). Walking, one of the most natural forms of movement (Morris & Hardman, 1997), is one activity that can promote physical activity and help decrease obesity rates. Schools, specifically physical education classes, provide an ideal setting for activity promotion among youth (Lubans et al., 2015). The purpose of this paper is to provide a framework for a year-long walking program for self-contained PE classes that is informed by the self-regulation construct of the social cognitive theory in an effort to increase physical activity levels for students with disabilities and their families. Keywords: Adapted physical activity, disability, fitness education, pedometer