The Effect of Swimming Exercise on Motor Development Level in Adolescents with Intellectual Disabilities

Elif Top^1,

¹Faculty of Sport Sciences, Usak University, Turkey

Cite this paper

Elif Top. The Effect of Swimming Exercise on Motor Development Level in Adolescents with Intellectual Disabilities. American Journal of Sports Science and Medicine. 2015; 3(5):85-89. doi: 10.12691/AJSSM-3-5-1

Abstract

Objectives: In this study, it was aimed to analyze the effect of swimming exercise on motor development level in adolescents with intellectual disabilities. Methods: A total of 30 mild intellectual disability (MID) individuals between 15-18 age groups participated the study. Bruininks–Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency-Second Edition (BOT-2)- Short Form were performed to determine basic motor characteristics of children. BOT-2-Short Form was applied to the participants before and after the ten-month swimming exercise program (60 dk/ 3 days /10 week). Results: According to research findings, in terms of body weight, manual dexterity, speed and agility, upper limb coordination, and BOT-2 total point parameters, there was no statistically significant difference found between groups, measurements (pre-test and post-test), groups and their measurements (p>0.05). In terms of fine motor precision, and fine motor integration parameters, while there was no statistically significant difference found between groups (p>0.05); a significant statistical difference was found between measurements (pre-test and post-test), groups and their measurements (p<0.05). In terms of bilateral coordination parameter, while there was no statistically significant difference found between measurements (pre-test and post-test), groups and their measurements (p>0.05); a significant statistical difference was found between groups (p<0.05). In terms of balance parameter and strength, while there was no statistically significant difference found between groups, groups and measurements (p>0.05); statistically significant difference was found between measurements (pre-test and post-test) (p<0.05). Conclusion: Consequently, regularly applied exercise programmes improve life quality level of individuals with MID by contributing to their motor development level.

Keywords

motor development, intellectual disabilities, exercise

Copyright

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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