Assessment of physical activity and health-related behaviours of disabled dancers

Abstract

Background. Disabled sport is coming one of the method of physical, mental and social rehabilitation. The main objective of the study was to assess physical activity and selected health behaviours of disabled people training in para dance.Material and methods. Twenty-five people took part in the study, aged 9-27 years old. The subjects were divided into two groups. Group 1 included people with at least two years of training experience, who train systematically throughout the year and participate in competitions. On the other hand, people with less training experience or who do not have the opportunity to systematically participate in dance training were assigned to Group 2. The survey included the following questionnaires: Modified International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), Juczyński’s Health-Related Behaviour Inventory (HRBI) and the author’s questionnaire.Results. The dancers’ health behaviours assessed using HRBI showed no statistically significant differences between the two groups. Overall physical activity measured by IPAQ is significant higher in professionally dancers (p<0.05). Analysis of the results of the each categories of IPAQ showed slight differences between the study groups. Conclusions. Participation in dance training had an impact on the health-related behaviour of people with disabilities. Dancers practising athletically and recreationally were paying attention to a healthy lifestyle.