ACTA FAC MED NAISS 2017;34(2):159-168 |
Original article
UDC: 796.035:616.899-053.6
616.1:796-323.2
DOI: 10.1515/afmnai-2017-0018
Physical Activity in Adolescent with Mental Retardation: Is Adapted Basketball Training Adequate Stimulus to Improve Cardiorespiratory Fitness and Sport Skills Performance?
Miodrag Kocić1, Ivana Bojić1, Marko Aleksandrović1, Aleksandar Ignjatović2, Dragan Radovanović1
1University of Niš, Faculty of Sport and Physical Education, Niš, Serbia
2University of Kragujevac, Faculty of Education in Jagodina, Kragujevac, Serbia
summary
The purpose of the study was to examine the effects of an adapted basketball
training program on the cardiorespiratory fitness and sport skills performance
of adolescents with mental retardation (MR). Fifty adolescents with mild MR who
participated in this study were divided in two groups. Experimental group (n =
25; mean ± SD age: 15.7 ± 0.9 years) performed the adapted training program,
four times per week during eight weeks. A control group (n = 25; mean ± SD age:
15.9 ± 0.8 years) followed ordinary physical education classes and continued
with their normal lifestyle. Exercise testing included the six-minute walk test
(6MWT), monitoring of heart rate frequency and sport skills performance test
battery. Results showed a significant difference
between groups pre- and post-treatment in 6MWT distance. The experimental group
experienced a 10% increase in covered distance pre- to post-testing (p < 0.05),
whereas controls had no significant changes in the same period. Conducted
adapted training also resulted in significant improvement in examined sport
skills performance. However, this kind and duration of experimental procedure
did not result in significant differences in anthropometric variables and heart
rate frequency. This study demonstrated that adapted basketball training is an
adequate stimulus for improvement in cardiorespiratory fitness and sport skills
performance of adolescents with mild MR. The advantage of this type of adaptive
training program is that it does not require a large financial input, but only
the engagement of a qualified and dedicated physical education professor.
Key words: adapted basketball training, mild mental retardation, cardiorespiratory fitness