Are children with Down syndrome missing out on the benefits of regular physical activity?
PhD student Samantha Downs finds out what parents think in her recent interview with SEN Magazine
The article in SEN Magazine looks at a 2011 LJMU study which explored available opportunities and perceived barriers to physical activity engagement amongst children and young people with Down syndrome, looking at feedback from parents and teachers. It also discusses the further development of this research into other areas, including investigating physical activity levels of children and young people with a range of intellectual disabilities.
“We are now investigating physical activity levels of children and young people with a range of intellectual disabilities,’ explains Sam, whose PhD covers physical activity in children and young people with intellectual disabilities. “Our recent studies have measured how much time children and young people with intellectual disabilities spend being physically active and inactive, how children engage in physical activity during school playtimes and in PE lessons, and we have also worked with children to see what they think about playtimes.”
“As part of these studies we have also interviewed school teachers to explore their perceptions regarding physical activity,” she continued. “Finally, we are currently running a pilot intervention study with two special needs schools in Merseyside and we are hoping this intervention will be successful in increasing children’s levels of physical activity.”
Samantha Downs was part of the team that carried out the research discussed in this article at the Physical Activity Exchange Department, based within the Research Institute for Sports and Exercise Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University: www.ljmu.ac.uk/PAexchange
The full article is on SEN Magazine's website
Clare Doran, Press and Publications Officer, Liverpool John Moores University, T: 0151 231 3004 c.n.doran@ljmu.ac.uk
Founded in 1825, LJMU is a modern civic university delivering impactful research and scholarship that form the foundation for its interaction with industry, business and the community. Ranked in the top 100 new universities in the world, the University has around 24,000 students, recruited from over 100 countries, who are enrolled on a wide range of undergraduate, postgraduate taught and research degrees as well as continuing professional development programmes. LJMU is one of the UK’s leading research active contemporary universities, with world-leading and internationally recognised research taking place across the institution. It also continues to be one of the UK’s leading higher education institutions for its interaction with business and the community. This interaction informs both teaching and research at the University and impacts positively on graduate employability, with 92% of graduates being in work or further study within six months of leaving the University.
