Breaking the ice in Parasport: Are youth meeting the 24-hour movement guidelines and are they safe?

Date
2024-06-26
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Abstract

This thesis contains two projects, one that explored PA levels amongst children and adolescents with disability participating in camps or weekly programs and the second evaluating safety in Para ice hockey (PIH) using video analysis methodology. The first study aimed to determine the 6-month difference in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) from baseline to 6-months following commencement of program (and proportion of individuals meeting PA guidelines) in children and adolescent (ages 6-17) PIH players (and participants in other weekly adapted PA programs) compared to those participating in a 5-day adapted sport and recreation (S&R) camp. The main results demonstrated no difference the change in MVPA from baseline to 6-months or any difference in MVPA between groups at the 6-month time-point. In terms of adherence to the combined 24-hour movement guidelines (light physical activity, sleep, and MVPA), 0% (0/14) of participants in the PIH and weekly programs cohort and 0% (0/23) of participants in the S&R camp cohort met the combined guidelines for PA at the 6-month time-point, despite engagement in either program. The second study sought to explore player safety in PIH by comparing the physical contact, head contact, and suspected injury (SI) incidence rates (IR) during tournament play across three grassroots PIH levels [Junior (< 16 years), Intermediate (≥16 years; Levels B and C)]. The main results demonstrated higher rates of physical contacts in Intermediate B (IB) compared to Intermediate C (IC). The results suggested that IB also had a higher rate of angled sled contacts, and indirect head contacts compared to IC. Amongst all three levels of play analyzed, there were a low proportion of penalized t-boning, direct head contacts (HC1), and body checking (at the junior division) contacts. Future investigations should target programming to increase PA levels in children and adolescents with disabilities, through attraction to PA and while reducing barriers such as injury, to ultimately create a safer space to play individuals of all abilities.

Description
Keywords
disability, para ice hockey, physical activity, sedentary, video analysis, athletic injury
Citation
Dennett, B. (2024). Breaking the ice in parasport: are youth meeting the 24-hour movement guidelines and are they safe? (Master's thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca.