Poor physical fitness of adolescents with mental retardation at Rajanukul School, Bangkok

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. Per cent body fat (%BF) was calculated from three sites of skinfold thickness. The...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inJournal of the Medical Association of Thailand Vol. 83; no. 11; p. 1387
Main Authors Chaiwanichsiri, D, Sanguanrungsirikul, S, Suwannakul, W
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Thailand 01.11.2000
Subjects
Adipose Tissue
Adolescent
Exercise Test
Female
Humans
Intellectual Disability - physiopathology
Life Style
Male
Physical Fitness - physiology
Risk Factors
Thailand
Thailand
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Summary: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. 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. Compared between MR and normal subjects, %BF was higher in the MR group without statistic significance. Five MR females had %BF > 30. The mean VO2peak was about 70 per cent of normal. The leg strength and flexibility were very poor. The MR adolescents had a significantly lower level of physical fitness and more prevalence of obesity than normal students. Appropriate physical activities should be emphasized for health promotion and disease prevention.
ISSN:0125-2208