Abstract: (610 Views)
Background & Objective:
Down syndrome is one of the most common cases of intellectual disability. In addition to slowness and low IQ, they are late learners and are not in a good condition in terms of physical fitness and movement. On the other hand, their daily activities are low, which results in obesity and lower cardio-respiratory fitness. The rate of bod mass index is higher in individuals with Down syndrome in comparison to healthy matched persons. Obesity and overweight in turn could result in cardiovascular complications. Previous studies have reported lower physical fitness in those with Down syndrome and improvements in these variables have been shown by organized exercise training. However, effects of un-organized activities such as games are not known. Therefore, the purpose of this research was to investigate the impact of performing native-local games on health-related physical fitness in people with Down syndrome.
Methods:
The current research was semi-experimental with a pre-test and post-test design. In this research, 24 subjects were selected amongst over 18 years old qualified candidates with intellectual disabilities; suffering from down syndrome (mean ± SD; age, 35.0 ± 11.8 years; weight, 58.5 ± 11.4 kg). Thereafter, they were randomly divided into two equal groups (experimental and control). Participants in training group performed native-local games for 12 weeks, 3 sessions per week, two times a day. In each session, after a general warm up and stretching exercises, they performed 10 native-local games including bring bread and take kabab (noon biar kabab bebar), breaking walnut (gerdu shekastan), snapping a handkerchief (dasmal qapi), seven stone (haft sang), throwig and hitting stones (dal plan), whirligig (ferfereh), hat snapping (kolah baran), four cells game (chehar khooneh), and mouse and cat which were followed by cooldown. Participants in control group performed no regular exercise during this period and continued their normal daily programs. Before training and two days after last training sessions, body composition and health related physical fitness factors including cardiovascular fitness, muscular endurance, strength, and flexibility were measured in both groups participants. To compare the changes in health related physical fitness factors and body composition variables in both groups ANCOVA was employed.
Results:
Between – group comparisons by using ANCOVA showed no significant differences between training and control groups for body mass index (P=0.077) and wiast circumference (P=0.484), while the comparisons for sit-up (P=0.001) and flexibility (P=0.003) showed significant differences, where these two variables were improved following the training. In addition, data analyses revealed that 12 weeks of native-local games has a significant effect on the strength of the right (P=0.012), left (P=0.018) wrists, and 6-minute walk test (P=0.031). Right and left wrist strength were increased by 20.5 and 6.5%, respectively, and cardiovascular endurance was increased by 13.8%.
Conclusion:
Since people with Down syndrome have lower physical fitness, movement performance, cardiovascular endurance, muscle strength, and considering the importance of physical fitness in daily activities and the limited participation of these people in physical activities, prescribing the training for these individuals is neccessary. Based on the findings of this research, it can be concluded that regular playing of native-local games in people with Down syndrome leads to the improvement of health related physical fitness. Therefore, using the native-local games by coaches and in the health centers as a part of daily routines for the down syndrom individuals is advised.
Down syndrome is one of the most common cases of intellectual disability. In addition to slowness and low IQ, they are late learners and are not in a good condition in terms of physical fitness and movement. On the other hand, their daily activities are low, which results in obesity and lower cardio-respiratory fitness. The rate of bod mass index is higher in individuals with Down syndrome in comparison to healthy matched persons. Obesity and overweight in turn could result in cardiovascular complications. Previous studies have reported lower physical fitness in those with Down syndrome and improvements in these variables have been shown by organized exercise training. However, effects of un-organized activities such as games are not known. Therefore, the purpose of this research was to investigate the impact of performing native-local games on health-related physical fitness in people with Down syndrome.
Methods:
The current research was semi-experimental with a pre-test and post-test design. In this research, 24 subjects were selected amongst over 18 years old qualified candidates with intellectual disabilities; suffering from down syndrome (mean ± SD; age, 35.0 ± 11.8 years; weight, 58.5 ± 11.4 kg). Thereafter, they were randomly divided into two equal groups (experimental and control). Participants in training group performed native-local games for 12 weeks, 3 sessions per week, two times a day. In each session, after a general warm up and stretching exercises, they performed 10 native-local games including bring bread and take kabab (noon biar kabab bebar), breaking walnut (gerdu shekastan), snapping a handkerchief (dasmal qapi), seven stone (haft sang), throwig and hitting stones (dal plan), whirligig (ferfereh), hat snapping (kolah baran), four cells game (chehar khooneh), and mouse and cat which were followed by cooldown. Participants in control group performed no regular exercise during this period and continued their normal daily programs. Before training and two days after last training sessions, body composition and health related physical fitness factors including cardiovascular fitness, muscular endurance, strength, and flexibility were measured in both groups participants. To compare the changes in health related physical fitness factors and body composition variables in both groups ANCOVA was employed.
Results:
Between – group comparisons by using ANCOVA showed no significant differences between training and control groups for body mass index (P=0.077) and wiast circumference (P=0.484), while the comparisons for sit-up (P=0.001) and flexibility (P=0.003) showed significant differences, where these two variables were improved following the training. In addition, data analyses revealed that 12 weeks of native-local games has a significant effect on the strength of the right (P=0.012), left (P=0.018) wrists, and 6-minute walk test (P=0.031). Right and left wrist strength were increased by 20.5 and 6.5%, respectively, and cardiovascular endurance was increased by 13.8%.
Conclusion:
Since people with Down syndrome have lower physical fitness, movement performance, cardiovascular endurance, muscle strength, and considering the importance of physical fitness in daily activities and the limited participation of these people in physical activities, prescribing the training for these individuals is neccessary. Based on the findings of this research, it can be concluded that regular playing of native-local games in people with Down syndrome leads to the improvement of health related physical fitness. Therefore, using the native-local games by coaches and in the health centers as a part of daily routines for the down syndrom individuals is advised.
Type of Study: Original Research Article |
Subject:
Rehabilitation
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