Influence of Video-Based Instruction on Physical Activity Participation of Youth with Disabilities

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommends sixty minutes of daily moderate to vigorous physical activity for children (2018). Children with disabilities experience more barriers than children without disabilities in achieving the daily recommended physical activity (Shields & Synnot, 2016). Children with physical and intellectual disabilities are at a higher risk for disease, stroke, diabetes, depression, and obesity when compared to their peers (Kirk, 2019). The purpose of this study is to assess how video-based instruction influences heart rate during virtual physical activity time of children with disabilities. Research on influencing the physical wellbeing of youth with disabilities through virtual formats has social validity, especially during the increased use of online instruction due to COVID-19 education mitigation policies (Theis et al., 2021). Research Question: The research question for this study is, can video-based instruction influence heart rate during virtual physical activity time of children with disabilities? Method: A single-subject alternating treatment research design will be used. School-aged children recruited from an after school physical activity program will participate in eight weeks of pre-recorded and synchronous fitness-focused physical activity sessions. Sixteen sessions each 20 minutes in duration will be held. Fitness trackers will be used to collect heart rate data. The duration of time spent in the light to vigorous heart rate zones will be analyzed using visual analysis. The investigators expect to learn how video-based instruction influences heart rate during virtual physical activity time, and what is the most effective form of video-based instruction for children with disabilities. This study is in progress and the results are expected in spring of 2021. With our findings we will contribute to the growing knowledge base of virtual physical activity programming for children with disabilities.