The influence of adapted physical activity on the posture of pupils with intellectual disabilities

Objective. To identify determine the impact of physical activity tests on the posture of pupils with mild mental retardation. Methods. 45 pupils between the ages of 8 - 10 (21 girls and 24 boys) from Telšiai and Kaunas secondary schools have been examined using W.W.K. Hoeger visual posture evaluation model in a frontal and sagittal plane. Testing was assessed according to a measuring scale from 1 to 5. Results. It was determined that even 61.9 % of participants had disorders in body posture and its segments: shoulder, spinal cord, neck and upper spinal cord positions. The disorders of posture were more frequent among boys. Least problematic body parts were knees, ankles and head. Among boys the best body segments proved to be knees and ankles, whilst among girls the investigators indicated the position of waist. Shoulder problems were more common in girls’ group (80.9%), in boys’ group these disorders were less significant (70.8%). The applied methods of adapted physical activity had a positive impact on the students’ posture. The study showed good results in students’ posture. Before adapted physical activity program posture impairment was determined to 33.3% of boys and 28.6% of girls. After the program the improvement was determined 20.8% and 19.1% accordingly. The maximum effect of adapted physical activity on the posture was noted after the evaluation of shoulder, lower part of spinal cord and abdomen in boys’ group, as well as neck and upper spinal cord positions in girls’ group