Scoping Review of Studies Exploring Physical Activity Among Children and Adolescents with Visual Impairment from 1981 to 2021

Through a scoping review, the current state of physical activity (PA) researches in children and adolescents with visual impairment (VI) was examined. A search of publications in 7 English data (Web of Science, ERIC, Academic Search Premier, SPORTDicus, MEDLINE, PubMed and Scopus) and 3 Chinese data (CNKI, WANFANG and WEIPU) between 1981 and 2021 retrieved 51 articles that met inclusion criteria was conducted. Eligible studies were coded according to the Behavioral Epidemiological Framework. 29.4% of studies examined associations between PA and health outcomes, which resulted in the weak foundations of examining factors influencing PA and intervention studies. 3.9% of studies tested methodology to measure PA. The results of this part showed that accelerometers were useful tools for measuring short term PA levels in children and adolescents with VI. However, the utilization of a 1-day familiarization period during data collection is suggested when measuring PA among this population. 54.9% of studies examined factors that influenced PA. The factors included personal (e.g. age, gender, VI levels, and perceived motor competence), interpersonal (e.g. parents, other families, and physical education teachers) and environmental (e.g. neighborhood safety, availability of adapted physical facilities and fitness program, and weather). 11.8% of studies evaluated the interventions to change PA. Setting PA level goals, educating parents of children and adolescents with VI on VI and PA knowledge, arranging peer tutors without disabilities helping children and adolescents with VI, and implementing PA programs had positive effects on improving PA levels among this population.