LONGITUDINAL EVALUATION OF PHYSICAL FITNESS PROFILES OF ADOLESCENTS WITH MENTAL RETARDATION

Abstract

Recent studies have clearly established that adolescents with mild mental retardation (MR) have lower fitness profiles when compared to their peers without disabilities and that these fitness profiles decline during the adolescent years. The low physical fitness profiles among youth with MR is presumed to partially result from their inability to participate in traditional physical education (PE) classes within the schools. PURPOSE: To implement a PE curriculum in the spring semester for youth with MR and to track their fitness level during the semester and at the start of the fell semester. METHOD: Thirty-four students (21 males, 13 females; age = 13.7 ± 1.9 yrs) were recruited from the Wichita, KS, school district. PE classes (45 min) were held twice a week throughout the spring, contisting of stretching, calisthenics, racing and running games, and team sports (i.e., soccer). No organized exercise was held during the summer. Measures of cardiovascular fitness (VO1peak estimated from 20-M shuttle test) and strength measurements (hand grip, knee flexion and extension) were performed before (Jan) and after (May) the spring semester, and on their return in the fall (Sept). RESULTS:Table: No Caption Available.CONCLUSION: Results indicate that exercise capacity (#laps), VO1peak, and knee flexion strength was either maintained or significantly (p < .05) improved during the semester, but declined during the summer, while hand grip strength and knee extension strength did not significantly change.