Purpose: This study investigated differences in cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and other physical literacy domains between children with a chronic medical condition (CMC) who adhered to with the physical activity guideline and those who did not.
Method: Forty children with a CMC (7-12 years) wore an accelerometer for 7 days to measure moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. CRF and muscle power were assessed with a maximal cardiopulmonary exercise test, and motor performance was measured with an exercise course. Motivation, confidence, knowledge, and understanding were assessed with a questionnaire.
Results: Children who adhered to the PA guideline ( n = 13) scored significantly higher for CRF, muscle power, motivation and confidence than children who did not adhere to the PA guideline ( n = 27). No significant differences were found for motor performance, knowledge and understanding.
Conclusion: Future research should investigate the effect of paying specific attention to motivation and confidence in children with a CMC to stimulate their adherence to the PA guideline.
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