The effect of a visual handicap on the movement coordination in blind children

This bachelor thesis is focused on monitoring the movement coordination in blind children, and its aim is to demonstrate the potential benefits that can be obtained by engaging in a specially modified sport. Practicing a sport is suitable for improving physical fitness and helps to eliminate risks, such as obesity increase, cardiovascular diseases, stroke, hypertension, diabetes or osteoporosis. All these risks are far more dangerous for the group to which blind and weak-sighted people belong as they are also affected by factors, such as dependency, protection, problems with the development of the personality and the psychomotor coordination, and the development of the loco-motor system. The introduction describes the anatomy of the eye and various defects associated with its development. Five simple tests show that sport improves the health state and the movement coordination in visually impaired children. The first test was aimed at observing walk and spatial orientation, with special attention paid to examination of the movement coordination. The test revealed large differences in physical coordination between the athlete client and the non-athlete client. In the test covering the distance of 10 m and 20 m it was ascertained that the spatial orientation and the distance estimation of the athlete client were better. The second test was to evaluate the coordination of movements of the limbs and the head, by observing both clients running. The test took place at a distance of 3 m and 5 m. There were visible differences between the two clients; in particular, the non-athlete client showed disorderly movements and a poor posture. It was obvious that the second client practised sports. The test of the response to audio stimulation. This test demonstrated the effect of sports activities on the athlete client who reacted more promptly and fulfilled the given 4 tasks better. The physical challenge test {--} learning skills. The non-athlete client showed some uncertainty but otherwise both of them fulfilled the given task well. The test of identification of objects by touch. In this test it was possible to observe different approaches of both the clients to fulfilling the task. The final evaluation of all the tests showed that the seemingly simple tasks were very difficult for the blind. Being commonly and easily practiced by people who are not visually handicapped in order to improve their physical condition, sport is often neglected by visually impaired people, mainly due to inaccessibility. The sports practiced by the blind and the weak-sighted are not synonymous to absolute health but sports activities can improve the dynamics of movement and the health state. With regard to these aspects, we can say that physical exercise of visually impaired people improves cardio respiratory and muscular endurance, strength, flexibility, but may also lead to better integration into the society and to a better-quality lifestyle