Document Type : Original Articles

Authors

• Mohammad Mashhadi ¹
• Gholamali Ghasemi ²
• Vahid Zolaktaf ³

¹ MSc, School of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran

² Assistant Professor, School of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran

³ Associate Professor, School of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran

Abstract

Introduction: Compared to healthy individuals, those with mental disability are physically less active and this may expose them to the risk of physical and motor dysfunctions. It might be possible to decrease such risks by encouraging them to participate in exercise programs. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of an 8-week program of combined exercise training on thoracic kyphosis and lumbar lordosis of adolescents with mental retardation.Materials and Methods: In this quasi-experimental study, 30 mentally retarded adolescents (mean age, 16.9 ± 1.21 years; mean height, 172 ± 9 cm; mean weight, 63.4 ± 16.76 kg, mean IQ, 63.07 ± 4.79) with thoracic kyphosis and lumbar lordosis were randomly assigned to one of two matched groups of control (n = 15) and experimental (n = 15) according to their IQ scores. While the controls were asked to continue their routine life as usual, subjects in experimental group participated in a combined exercise training program which was held three times a week for eight weeks with each training session last for 60 minutes. The program was consisted of physical fitness and corrective exercises. Pre and post measures of kyphotic and lordotic curves were obtained using a flexible ruler. Data were statistically analyzed via repeated measure ANOVA using SPSS software version 17.Results: Post-test scores of lordotic curves in control and experimental groups showed +1.0 and -3.4 degrees of change, respectively. This can be interpreted as a significant statistical interaction between two groups (F (1, 28) = 35.6, P = 0.000). Kyphotic curve also showed the same interaction, and post-test score changes of +0.2 and -2.6 were respectively observed in control and experimental groups (F (1, 28) = 9.6, P = 0.014).Conclusion: In this study, mentally retarded adolescents were engaged in a combined exercise program consisted of physical fitness and corrective exercises. Findings revealed that the program had therapeutic effects and decreased thoracic kyphosis and lumbar lordosis. It is concluded that similar fitness and corrective exercises are possibly recommendable for mentally retarded adolescents.Keywords: Mental retardation, Thoracic kyphosis, Lumbar lordosis, Combined exercise training