A descriptive study of changes following a physical fitness : physical education program for mentally retarded adolescents

Abstract

The purpose of this descriptive study was to analyze changes in twelve physical fitness parameters following a two school year physical fitness/physical education program for moderately mentally retarded adolescents. Laboratory pre- and post-test assessments were ma.de of height, weight, resting heart rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, vital capacity, forced expiratory volume, hand steadiness, hand-eye coordination, flexibility, grip strength, triceps and abdominal skin-fold thicknesses, and aerobic capacity.

Forty-two subjects, aged 12 to 21, participated in the program which consisted of aerobic rhythms, dance, and track for physical fitness classes and basic sport skills and games for physical education classes. Group one, 21 subjects aged 12 to 18 participated in the combined program for two school years. Group two, 21 subjects aged 19 to 21, participated in the combined program the first school year and only the physical education program the second year.

Means and standard deviations were calculated to describe the data. For group one, health-related improvements were noted for resting heart rate, vital capacity, hand steadiness, hand-eye coordination, flexibility, grip strength, and both triceps and abdominal skinfold thicknesses. Improvements were not demonstrated for forced expiratory volume or aerobic capacity. Increases for systolic and diastolic blood pressure, height, and weight were considered to be the result of growth and development. For group two, health-related improvements were noted for resting heart rate, vital capacity, forced expiratory volume, grip strength, hand steadiness, hand-eye coordination, flexibility, and triceps skinfold thickness. Increases for systolic and diastolic blood pressure were considered to be the result of growth and development. The slight increase for weight was considered to be a maintenance of the pre-test score. Improvements were not demonstrated for aerobic capacity and there was an increase for abdominal skinfold thickness.