Physical Fitness Tested in the Special School and its Improvement

The purpose of this study was to analyze the results of physical fitness tests for students with mental retardation within 7 years and choose the most effective test items. The subjects of this study were 71 male, 61 female middle school students and 54 male, 31 female high school students in Seoul, Korea. The results showed that there was significant difference between the group with mental retardation and the control group (regular students with the same age range). A modified pull-up was more effective to test muscle strength rather than the arm hanging. Leg raise was more effective to test muscle endurance than sit-up. Fifty-meter run was more effective to test speed rather than 25-meter run. Standing long jump and vertical jump both were good to test muscle power. Six-minute running and 800 meter run were both good to test cardiorespiratory endurance. There were no differences on the effectiveness to test agility among shuttle run, Burpee test, and zigzag run. Sit and reach and back lifts were more effective to test flexibility compared to a test of trunk flexion. Therefore, the physical fitness test for the students with disabilities should be modified and make the students to show their fitness level more effectively in the special school compared to the present test battery.이 연구는 서울대학교 사범대학 발전기금의 지원으로 이루어졌음