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**Abstract Submission Portal is Now Closed**
Guidelines for Submission
Abstract submissions for both oral and poster presentations are subject to review by the scientific committee. The scientific committee reserves the right to change the format of your presentation to be able to balance the program as a whole. All the conference rooms will be provided with power-point projectors. If you need additional equipment, please inform us in advance.
Oral Presentations In oral presentations, speakers will report recent findings in fundamental and applied research and introduce different techniques for practical application followed by a short discussion. Oral presentations are limited to 15 minutes plus 5 minutes for questions.
A limited number of slots will be reserved for graduate students to present their research proposals. Please follow the scientific research abstract guidelines and then during the submission process select "Grad Student Research Proposal" as the format type.
The oral lecture program will also accommodate a few building sessions. Time slots will be either 50 minutes or 80 minutes (including question time). If you wish to submit an abstract for such a session, please follow the practical application guidelines.
Poster Presentations Each poster should be no larger than 36 in wide × 48 in high. The posters should be easily read from a distance of 3 ft. Boards will be made available for hanging posters using pushpins or tape. The selected posters will be on display in a poster area during the Conference.
Types of Abstracts Two types of abstracts can be submitted, those based on scientific research and those demonstrating practical application of programs or techniques in adapted physical activity. Guidelines for preparing each type of abstract are presented below.
General Themes
**See sample abstract below to ensure your formatting is correct** Scientific abstracts will be evaluated based on the following criteria: · Abstract is written with clarity in good English · Abstract is consistent with symposium subject areas (or relevant to adapted physical activity) · The purpose is clearly stated, based on original research · Appropriate scientific methods are used to answer the research question · Methods are clearly described, valid and reliable · Statistical procedures and results are clearly presented (It is not satisfactory to state only “The results will be discussed”) · Conclusions are based on valid interpretations and are clearly stated, justifiable
Submit your abstract as a Word document. The submitted abstract should be limited to a maximum of 400 words; title, authors and institutions not included. Format the abstract using Calibri 12pt font, single spaced, left-aligned. The abstract must be written in English.
Your abstract file should be saved as last name and first initial e.g., SmithP. If you are submitting more than 1 abstract, name them as SmithP1, SmithP2, etc.
Title: The title should be brief (limit to 15 words, bold) Authors: First name and Last name; last names in all caps; insert a blank line after list of authors Institutions: Name of institution and country for each author; insert a blank line after list of institutions Email address: Include email address of first author; insert a blank line after email address Abstract: Must include the following headings: PURPOSE, METHODS, RESULTS, and CONCLUSIONS (Headings are in all caps and bold).
Preparing the PRACTICAL Abstract Submit your abstract as a Word document. The submitted abstract should be limited to a maximum of 400 words; title, authors and institutions not included. Format the abstract using Calibri 12pt font, single spaced, left-aligned. The abstract must be written in English.
Your abstract file should be saved as last name and first initial e.g., SmithP. If you are submitting more than 1 abstract, name them as SmithP1, SmithP2, etc. Title: The title should be brief (limit to 15 words, bold) Authors: First name and Last name; last names in all caps; insert a blank line after list of authors Institutions: Name of institution and country for each author; insert a blank line after list of institutions Email address: Include email address of first author; insert a blank line after email address Abstract: Must include a clear description of the program or technique being presented. Application for use in the field of adapted physical activity and potential benefits should be discussed.
Sample Scientific Abstract
Perceived Benefits and Barriers to Exercise among Power Soccer Athletes
Laurie A. MALONE1 & J.P. BARFIELD2
1Research & Education, Lakeshore Foundation, USA; 2Department of Exercise Science, Physical Education, & Wellness, Tennessee Tech University, USA
lauriem@lakeshore.org
Physical activity interventions result in important health and quality of life benefits for persons with disabilities but investigations assessing benefits and barriers to physical activity have typically neglected persons with the most severe limitations. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify benefits and barriers to exercise among individuals with severe physical disabilities, namely individuals who use power wheelchairs for sport. METHODS: Participants with physical disabilities competing at a national power soccer competition were asked to complete the Exercise Benefits and Barrier Scale (EBBS; Sechrist, 1985). Minimum age was limited to 18 or above based on criteria of the survey tool used. The EBBS contains 43 statements regarding the perceived benefits and the perceived barriers to exercise with a four-response, forced-choice Likert format from 4 (strongly agree) to 1 (strongly disagree). The scale contains 14 barrier items and 29 benefit items. Individual items on the EBBS load onto nine factors including Life enhancement, Physical performance, Psychological outlook, Exercise milieu, Social Interaction, Time Expenditure, Preventative health, Physical exertion, and Family encouragement (Sechrist, 1985). RESULTS: A total of 25 participants completed the EBBS survey (MAge = 28.8 ± 9.2 yrs, MHt = 163.7 ± 11.5 cm, MWt = 61.8 ± 17.8 kg, MSportExp = 8.2 ± 8.2 yrs). The three most commonly reported perceived benefits to exercise among the power soccer players were 1) Contact with friends, 2) Enjoy exercise, and 3) Mental health, Meet new people, Good entertainment (tied). The top three barriers to exercise reported were 1) Exercise is hard work, 2) I’m fatigued by exercise, and 3) Exercise makes me tired. CONCLUSIONS: Primary benefits of exercise reported in the current study were in the areas of Social interaction and Psychological outlook whereas the primary barriers to exercise were in the area of Physical exertion. Program leaders and rehabilitation specialists can utilize this information to maximize program reach and recruitment efforts for persons with severe disabilities. Client motivation and program adherence is more likely to be achieved if programs being offered take into account the desired benefits. In addition, programs should be designed to address the perceived physical exertion barriers and help keep participants engaged.
**A Practical Abstract should look the same as a scientific abstract but without the headings** |