SOMATIC DEVELOPMENT AND PHYSICAL FITNESS OF SCHOOLGIRLS WITH MILD INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES - A COMPARATIVE STUDY

Abstract This paper presents the results of a study into somatic development and physical fitness among schoolgirls with mild intellectual disabilities and their able-bodied peers. Comparative analysis of the height and weight of the children was carried out, and results from 60m and 600m runs, long jump, palant ball throw and medicine ball throw were obtained. Analysis of the data, which were collected from 2012 to 2015, revealed no statistically significant differences in somatic development and physical fitness between schoolgirls with mild intellectual disabilities and their able-bodied peers, who constituted a control group. The results obtained indicate that there is a possibility of integrating schoolgirls with this type of disability with their ablebodied peers during physical education lessons and school sports competitions. A comparative study involving team sports would be very important for school practice