Physical activity of children with and without long-term illness or disability.
BACKGROUND
We know very little about physical activity in children with long-term illness or disability compared with those children without disabilities. Previous studies indicate low physical activity levels among all adolescents.


METHODS
The sample consisted of Canadian (n = 2720) and Finnish pupils (n = 3459) approximately 13.5 and 15.5 years of age in general (mainstreamed) education. The study is a part of the Health Behavior in School-aged Children (HBSC) study. Nationally representative data were collected in 2002 using a standardized questionnaire. The moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity screening measure was used.


RESULTS
Approximately one-fifth of the pupils in both countries had a long-term disability, illness or medical condition. In both countries boys and girls with a long-term illness or disability were equally physically inactive, and adolescents with a long-term illness or disability were as physically active as those without disabilities.


CONCLUSIONS
There is no difference between young people with and without long-term illness/disability, and between boys and girls, in relation to their physical activity. However, all of them fall short of recommended guidelines. This indicates that promoting a physically active lifestyle should be of high priority in the lives of young people.
Dept. of Sport Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, Finland.
Pauli
P
Rintala
Raili
R
Välimaa
Jorma
J
Tynjälä
Will
W
Boyce
Matt
M
King
Jari
J
Villberg
Lasse
L
Kannas
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D019988:Children with Disabilities / Q000534:rehabilitation* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008282:Mainstreaming, Education; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires