Poor Physical Fitness of Adolescents with Mental Retardation at Rajanukul School, Bangkok
DOOTCHAI CHAIW ANICHSIRI, M.D.*, SOMPOL SANGUANRUNGSIRIKUL, M.D.**, WUTTIPORN SUWANNAKUL, B.Sc. (Sports Science)**
Affiliation : * Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, ** Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand.
Objective :To study the physical condition of adolescents with mild to moderate mental retardation (MR), twenty-eight MR students from Rajanukul school were evaluated for their fitness components compared to 14 normal students. Method. Per cent body fat (%BF) was calculated from three sites of skinfold thickness. The cardiorespiratory endurance was assessed using graded exercise testing and Quinton gas analyzer. Isometric leg strength was measured with dynamometer, and flexibility was measured by sit and reach test.
Results : Compared between MR and normal subjects, %BF was higher in the MR group without statistic significance. Five MR females had %BF > 30. The mean V02peak was about 70 pet cent of normal. The leg strength and flexibility were very poor.
Conclusion : The MR adolescents had a significantly lower level of physical fitness and more prevalence of obesity than normal students. Appropriate physical activities should be empha- sized for health promotion and disease prevention.
Keywords : Physical Fitness, Mental Retardation, Cardiorespiratory Endurance, Exercise Testing
