Adapted Physical Activity (APA) has passed many terminological and definition changes as well as philosophical differences over the past 100 years. The roots of adapted physical activity history are strongly related to medicine, rehabilitation, physical education and sport. The approaches to progress stages of adapted physical activity are similar all over the world, however each culture may create its own philosophy of health, education and well-being for all, including individuals with disabilities, persons with special health care needs and elderly. Moreover the expansion of science revealed new facts about abilities of individuals with special needs and pointed out new perspectives. Such situation created various interpretation of APA history and reflected many view-points on APA body of knowledge. Many experts identify four main sources of APA bases: medicine, special education, exercise sciences and social sciences. From a historical perspective on attitudes toward individuals with special needs Pollowey et al. indicated four approaches reflected also a progress in APA: facility-based paradigm, service-based paradigm, supports-based paradigm), empowerment and self-determination paradigm. The main fields of APA are sport, recreation, rehabilitation, physical education and employment of individuals with disabilities. Initiatives undertaken within APA fields include services focused on physical activity for individuals with special needs, educational systems for APA experts and professionals, scientific research, social consciousness and attitudes as well as access for information. The purposes of this paper were (1) to analyze the stages of adapted physical activity history, (2) to show the importance of APA for a contemporary society in terms of life philosophy and special services offered to individuals with special needs (3) to introduce APA as a new cross-disciplinary body of knowledge and (4) to emerge APA modern tendencies in polish rehabilitation and life long education.