LSPA

The Interdisciplinary Model of health and social indicators for participation in physical activities for children with disabilities including 30 assessment instruments has been implemented.

The project results from 7 interdisciplinary assessment packages include 242 data outcomes:
1) 105 gross motor function
2) physical skill measures
3) 40 cognitive skill measures
4) 45 physiological measures
5) 45 postural measures
6) 5 participation and daily physical activity measures
7) 9 qualitative study measures.

Project results have been included in seven presentations at four international conferences. Two manuscripts have been submitted in international journals while three manuscripts are in preparation. Also, the publicity of the project outcomes included social event, for example, the Researchers’ Night, 2016. The second version of the innovative technology prototype to monitor daily fitness level of children with disabilities has been developed and implemented in pilot projects for validation of the device.

Collaboration between researchers from the IECS, LASE and students contribute development of a new study course for health care and sport science students on innovative technologies to monitor and measure physical fitness level.

A.Klavina, Chief researcher of the project

From 5^th to 2^th September prof. Aija Kļavina and assistant Karina Ostrovska from the LASE attended the Norwegian School of Sport Science (NSSS) as part of the Research and Scholarship Programme (LV05) co-financed by the EEA and Norway Grants project “Innovative Physical Activity Measures in Health and Sport Science Studies” (nr.EEZ/NFI/S/2015/021). During staff mobility visit prof. Aija Kļaviņa met with the head of the Sport education department prof. Aage Radmanu, who holds this position since September 2016.  A.Klaviņa and K.Ostrovska together with researcher prof. O.Standal and researcher assistant Anja Jondal Digranes worked on research project results and discussed the development of the outline of international research manuscript. Researchers agreed about the research work design for data elaboration in the project regarding the section of qualitative indicators. A.J.Digranes will do data collection. Additionally, colleagues discussed the agenda for prof. Standal to Latvia, November 21-27.

The 21^th European Sport Science College congress was held in Vienna (Austria) from July 6 - 9, 2016 representing more than 2000 participants from the world. The presentation on the Norway grant project “Health and social indicators of participation in physical activities for children with disabilities” (NFI/R/2014/070) was included in the Invited Session. Aija Klavina, chief researcher of the project, had 20 minutes presentation about the project progress and obtained results. Participants of the congress had interest about the interdisciplinary research approach and comprehensive project outcomes. Also, A.Klavina met with the chief of the Sport Education department from the NSSS to discuss the progress of the scholarship (nr. EEZ/NFI/S/2015/021)and the research project. Next visit to the NSSS will be organized in early September within frame of the scholarship project. Prof. Aija Klavina and lecturer Karīna Rodionova will teach and meet with the staff at the NSSS. They also will participate in the National conference of adapted physical activity in the Sport Rehabilitation Center Beitostolen, while also meet with the administration of the center.

A.Klavina, Chief researcher of the project

Photo: Speakers of the Invited Sessions: INCLUSIVE PHYSICAL ACTIVITY IN PHYSICAL EDUCATION, SPORT, AND REHABILITATION

From left: S.De Groot (Netherlands), A.Klavina (Latvia), M.Dinold (Austria), in front N.Kilpela (Finland)

The 13^th European Congress in Adapted Physical Activity was held in Olomouc (Czech Rep) from June 15 -17, 2016 representing participants from 26 countries. The outcomes of the Norway grant project “Health and social indicators of participation in physical activities for children with disabilities” (NFI/R/2014/070) were included in four presentations. Aija Klavina opened the congress with key-note speech about the project progress, interdisciplinary assessment model and obtained results. Oyvind Standal, researcher from the Norwegian School of Sport Science presented qualitative view on objective and subjective aspects of inclusive sport education. The two master students of the LASE study program “Adapted Physcal Activity Specialist in Rehabilitation” Martins Campa and Anastasija Alifanova presented their research results that were obtained as part of the Norway Grants project.

A.Klavina, Chief researcher of the project

On June 10, 2016 students from the LASE master program in health care “Adapted Physcal Activity Specialist in Rehabilitation” defended their research papers. Research of Anastasija Alifanova “Functional Indicators of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder for Participation in Physical Activities” and Martins Campa “Functional Indicators of Children with Cerebral Palsy for Participation in Physical Activities” were part of the Norway grant project “Health and social indicators of participation in physical activities for children with disabilities” (NFI/R/2014/070) met at the LASE in Riga (Latvia). The chief investigator of the project prof. Aija Klavina supervised both research studies. Research included assessment of movement abilities and physical skills of children with functional limitations, and responses from parents’ surveys on opportunities of their children participate in daily physical activities. Study results indicated that children with autism and cerebral palsy are physically active only about 2-3 hours per week that significantly differs from recommendations of the World Health Organizations (6-7 h per week). While children were able to perform physical and movement skill tests, their performance was up to 6 times lower than age appropriate norms. Both studies received positive feedback from the evaluation committee and students were recommended for doctoral   studies.  M.Campa and A.Alifanova will present research results in the European Conference in Adapted Physical Activities in Olomouc (Czech), June 15-17, 2016.

Prof. A.Klavina

Chief investigator of the project

The scientific approach to identify relevant qualitative indicators for policy regarding inclusive physical education to be used on national level in Latvia and Norway has been created. The components of the International Classification of Functioning (WHO) as universal and internationally approved framework was used to develop Interdisciplinary Model of health and social indicators for participation in physical activities for children with disabilities (Figure 1).

Figure 1- Model of health and social indicators for participation in physical activities for children with disabilities

The quantitative health indicators to capture the complex nature of physical activities have been partially validated across the four project target groups (n = 60).  According the project, the researchers’ team currently is obtaining measures of physical and cognitive/social parameters characterizing the physical activity (PA) potential in children with disabilities such as physical and gross motor skills (data up to now n = 118), PA level (data up to now n = 5), subjective perception of being engaged within activity setting (data up to now n = 100), postural stability and physical fitness components such as muscle force, endurance and EMG response to muscle fatigue (data up to now n = 12 measures). The RTTEMA’s researchers team has developed the cognitive test package of the five Vienna Test System subtests (number of data up to now n = 14). In total, 7 master degree students and two doctoral student are participating in this project. Three master students are currently studying in Norway as part of the synergy scholarship program.

The researchers from IECS are working on development of the prototype version of the device to collect vital signs of PA data from children with disabilities. The one of developed system's parts is wearable device used for data acquisition from user in real-time. A first prototype for this sensor device has been developed (Figure 2).

Figure 2 - First prototype of the sensor device

Aija Klavina

Chief Researcher of the Project

From March 1 three students from the LASE health care master program “Adapted physical activity specialist in rehabilitation” – Linda Mitrone, Simona Galvanovska and Jekaterina Barinova are studying at the Norwegian School of Sport Science. Student mobility funded by the Research and Scholarship Programme (LV05) co-financed by the European Economic Area (EEA) and Norway Grants as part of the project “Innovative Physical Activity Measures in Health and Sport Science Studies” (nr.EEZ/NFI/S/2015/021). Wile in Norway our students are doing their research work according to their individual topics of master thesis that is done in synergy with the research project “Health and Social Indicators of Participation in Physical Activities for Children with Disabilities” (NFI/R/2014/070).  During mobility students also improved the practical knowledge and experience at the Beitostolen Health sport center that is partnership institution of the NSSS.  At this center people with disability including children, are receiving rehabilitation where adapted physical activities are primary services. Our students will stay at the Beitostolen health center till the end of May. 

On November 27, representatives of all partners involved in the Norway grant project “Health and social indicators of participation in physical activities for children with disabilities” (nr. NFI/R/2014/070) met at the LASE in Riga (Latvia). The chief researcher of the project, prof. Aija Klavina informed about the first large-scale data obtain when movement and physical skills were assessed for more than 100 children with functional impairments on November 13. Assoc. prof. and researcher from the NSSS Øyvind Førland Standal informed about the progress in assessing qualitative indicators of participation in physical activities of children with disabilities. The researchers at the NSSS have done the literature review that will be followed by video observations, interviews during sport sessions in schools as well as in out of school settings in next few months.

Also, first year students of the master program in health care program “Adapted physical activity specialist in rehabilitation” from the LASE met with prof. Standal to discuss the mobility activity within the project “Innovative Physical Activity Measures in Health and Sport Science Studies” (nr. EEZ/NFI/S/2015/021). The three students will study at the NSSS and do practical placement at the famous sport rehabilitation center in Beitostolen from March 1 to May 31, 2016.  

Prof. Aija Klavina, Ph.D.

Chief researcher of the project

329 participants – children and youth with different disabilities gathered for the annual Sport Festival “Come and do sports for fun!” at the Riga Olympic Center on November 13. About 110 voluntary assistants helped during the event including health care and sport science students from the LASE, and high-school students from the Riga’s Secondary school in Jugla. The Festival was excellent example of positive attitude and equal society. “I haven’t smiling so much in the one day!”, noted the one of students helping at the Festival. Participants were offered 30 sport activities in the two sports halls of the Olympic center. In 18 of these activities students from the LASE collected data of physical health indicators for the Norway grant project “Health and social indicators of participation in physical activities for children with disabilities” (nr. NFI/R/2014/070). The obtained data will be used to develop interdisciplinary assessment package for functional evaluation of children with disabilities age from 7-12 years. The Latvian Disabled Children and Youth Sport Federation organized the Festival with support of the Education, Culture and Sport Department of the Riga’s Municipality.

Prof. Aija Klavina, Ph.D.

LASE

On the 30^th October the Latvian partners of the project “Health and social indicators of participation in physical activities for children with disabilities” (nr. NFI/R/2014/070) had meeting at the Latvian Academy of Sport Education (LASE) to discuss the progress of project. This project is implemented in collaboation between the LASE, Riga Teacher Training and Education Management Academy, Institute of Electronics and Computer Science and Norwegian School of Sport Science and suported by the EEA/Norway Grants “Research and Scholarship” program in Latvia.

Prof. Aija Klavina, the chief researcher of the project, informed participants on progress of the project, “All partners gradually have joined the project. The group of researchers from the LASE started project work in June , so we can share our progress now. We have developed initial protocols to determine health indicators that soon will be used to obtain project data”.

“13 undergraduate and graduate students of health care study programs have joined the project team. They will use project data in their research projects. The project contributes academic process at the Academy since students obtain scientific evidence based knowledge and experience as well as learn to work in interdisciplinary team of professionals from different research fields”, shares Prof. A.Klavina.

A.Klavina discussed with participants preparation for the data obtain during the Sport Festival on November 13 organized by the Latvian Disabled Children and Youth Sport Federation. About 200 children with different disabilities will be assessed during the event.

The next project work meeting will be held on November 27 with participation of researchers from the Norwegian School of Sport Science.

Information prepared by the

Chief of the Public Relations and Communication, LASE

Ilze Āķe-Vīksne, 29445209

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in collaboration with the chief researcher of the project

Prof. Aija Klavina