Efekti programa vežbanja na motoričku efikasnost mladih sa lakim intelektualnim invaliditetom

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of the 12 weeks experimental exercise program on the motor efficiency in young with mild intellectual disabilities. The study involved 41 pupils with mild intellectual disabilities (27 male and 14 female subjects, aged 17.44 ± 1.34 years), who attended special school "14th October " in Nis (Serbia) divided into two groups. The experimental group counted 21 students (14 males and 7 females), while the control group counted 20 students (13 male and 7 female). The experimental exercise program consisted of exercises which develop and improve balance, coordination, strength, manual dexterity, running speed and agility. It was implemented a number of ball games and various polygons. Experimental exercise program lasted 12 weeks, twice a week for 45 minutes. The control group subjects practiced a regular curriculum in physical education classes, in the same period of time and with the same pace. Fourteen tests from the short form of Bruinkins-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency (BOT-2) were applied to determine the students' motor efficiency. The initial measuring was conducted before the experimental treatment, and the final one conducted after. The results of the two measurements were compared. Multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) showed that the applied experimental exercise program had a statistically significant effect (p=0.001) on the motor skills improvement in young people with mild intellectual disability. The results provide useful information about optimizing training loads in physical education classes with young people with mild disabilities in intellectual functioning.