The differences in physical fitness levels between hearing and visually impaired students

• Main Authors: Abdullah, Nagoor Meera, Mohamed, Mawarni, Tumijan, Wahidah, Parnabas, Vincent, Ponnusamy, Vellapandian, Mohamed Shapie, Mohamed Nizam, Omar Fauzee, Mohd Sofian
• Other Authors: Ismail, Shariman Ismadi
• Format: Book Section
• Published: Springer 2015
• Subjects: L Education (General)
• Online Access: http://repo.uum.edu.my/26319/; http://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-287-691-1_22
• Institution: Universiti Utara Malaysia

The purpose of the study is to identify the differences of fitness profile between students with hearing impairment and students with visual impairment at secondary schools. A number of 62 subjects from two types of disabilities with 30 students who have hearing impairment (male = 21; female = 9) and 32 students with visual impairment (male = 18; female = 14) voluntarily participated in the study. A fitness profile was determined to identify the fitness level between two types of disabilities. Seven fitness tests were conducted on both groups such as 1600-m run test, 10-m agility run test, standing broad jump test, vertical jump test, handgrip strength test, sit and reach test, and sit-up test. The findings showed that students who are visually impaired performed better in sit-up test (36.50 ± 11.02), 1600-m run test (11.53 ± 2.26), and sit and reach test (31.09 ± 5.04) and students with hearing impairment performed better in handgrip strength test (right hand 29.27 ± 10.57) (left hand 27.48 ± 9.55), standing broad jump test (176.03 ± 43.26), and vertical jump test (40.00 ± 12.81) but with both groups showed similar strength in agility test. There was a significant difference in the sit-up test between two groups (0.0000, p ˃ 0.05), whereas other tests did not show much difference.