A study on the physical fitness of children with mild mental retardation in various self-testing activities

• Main Author: Huang, Kuang-Wei (James)
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 2001
• Subjects: Physical fitness; Mentally handicapped children > Psychological testing; Mental retardation; Educational Psychology
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_masteral/2538
• Institution: De La Salle University

The study assesses the physical fitness of children with mental retardation in various self-testing activities. It, likewise, looked into the profile of children with mild mental retardation in terms of strength, power, flexibility, endurance , speed and agility on their physical fitness level. Based on these, a program to enhance their physical fitness was developed.It made use of the descriptive method and administered a standardized physical fitness test to children with mild mental retardation. The study revealed that majority of the children with mild mental retardation of P. Gomez Elementary School Division of City Schools, Manila were males and females and were physically healthy. Majority of the boy and girl respondents had low to very poor leg strength and power, abdominal and muscle strength, speed and coordination, strength and endurance of the muscles of the arms and shoulders, flexibility and cardio-respiratory endurance. Some of the girl and boy respondents had average leg strength and power, abdominal and muscles of the arms and shoulders, flexibility and cardio-respiratory endurance. With good health conditions and adequate physical education activities, the mild mentally retarded children can approximate the motor ability of their normal peers. A physical fitness program is proposed based from the outcomes of the study.