In wheelchair-dependent persons, the sedentary life style leads to a marked and diminished daily physical activity, which in turn decreases physical work capacity and causes life-style related diseases. For the maintenance of good health, regular physical activities including wheelchair sports are strongly recommended. Following the findings of our previous studies, we reviewed the characteristics of physical work capacity, the role of physical activity, and physiological responses to acute and chronic exercise in wheelchair-dependent persons, especially for persons with spinal cord injury. We then propose effective strategies for promoting their physical activity and improving their physical work capacity.

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In this study, the author made a detailed examination of the background to the development of the International Stoke Mandeville Games (ISMG) with a focus on archery. It approaches the subject from the viewpoint of Ludwig Guttmann's thinking with regard to the games, using the magazine "The Cord" as historical material. a) After the Fearnley Cup was awarded in 1956, patients with spinal cord damage were keen to participate in the Olympics and it became more likely that the ISMG would become an Olympic-style event. Archery, which is advocated by Ludwig Guttmann as the "ideal game" in which disabled people can compete with the able-bodied, became popular internationally as the number of rounds increased. As such the level of competition in the sport improved, and new rounds were added to the Olympic Games. b) A coaches' meeting was held where each nation was encouraged to fully engage in the games. The coaches and athletes became representatives of their home countries and took on the role of diffusing the sport to patients of spinal cord damage there. c) The number of countries and athletes participating in the ISMG grew. It can be said that the foundation of the ISMG was supported by sportsmanship of the athletes. That, in addition to the courage and bravery to aim to win by overcoming disability, is the "spirit of the Stoke Mandeville Games."

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The purpose of this study was to investigate a swimming activity to improve the quality of life (QOL) in Children with Cerebral Motor Disorders. The subjects of the experiment were two 9-year-old children. The experiment spanned a period of seven months, during which the children attended a 60-minute swimming activities once a week. The following categories were investigated: (1) Heart rate (HR) during swimming, physical education, home, and sleep; (2) Physical condition; and (3) Life cycle check sheet; (4) Hearing. The Life cycle check sheets were recorded by the children's parents. The results revealed that the average HR during swimming was the highest in daily. Further, the average HR of each swimming program was found to be the highest during a free play session. Physical activities were swimming and physical education in daily. In addition, the physical, mental and social conditions of subjects showed improvement, based on the observation of their increased confidence in participating in various activities. The results of the HR, Physical condition and Life cycle check sheets and Hearing demonstrated that swimming improves the physical capacity as well as the physical, mental and social conditions of Children with Cerebral Motor Disorders. This suggests that there is a need to implement swimming activity for Children with Cerebral Motor Disorders.

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This study aimed to explore the influences of an adapted sport program on parents who participated in this program along with their children with intellectual disabilities. A qualitative study was conducted on eleven parents who participated in a table tennis program with their children. An analysis was performed by categorizing the contents, i.e., the pros and cons of participating, according to two coworkers (two volunteer coaches) who coordinated with all the families involved in this program. Consequently, seven contents were categorized as pros; three, as cons. In specific terms, the following were the contents categorized as pros: "To perform the same exercises (experiences) with the entire family," "To be able to observe the proficiency of the children," "To build a relationship through the sport," "To be able to understand the condition of children," "To be proactive in intervening and providing support," "To obtain opportunities to exercise by themselves," and "To function as a leisure activity for the entire family." The following were the contents categorized as cons: "The schedule was inconvenient for the family members," "The children were distracted by their parents," and "The parents were unable to see their children." The results of this study are expected to be utilized as basic data to improve adapted sports programs involving parents and their intellectually disabled children.

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The aim of this report is to introduce the recent trends in sports activities of people with disabilities in Berlin. Until recently in Berlin, the number of people registered with the Berlin Sports Federation for Persons with Disabilities (Behinderten-Sportverband Berlin e.V; BSB) was lower than the average number of registrants for all of Germany. However, together with integrated sports and the integration of information, and the growing network between the BSB and schools, businesses, medical institutions, and medical insurance, efforts are being made to improve accessibility to sports for people with disabilities. As a result, there has been a great increase in the number of people registered in the BSB. In addition, the Associated Sports Clubs for People with Disabilities (SGH Berlin) combines a number of clubs to take advantages of the economy of scale. SGH Berlin, by creating integrated sports groups and providing information to the residents of surrounding communities, is working to change the image of people with disabilities. These efforts to promote sports among people with disabilities may serve as reference for attempts to improve the sports environment for people with disabilities and increase the number of participants in Japan.

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