Effect of Inclusive Games and Physical Exercises on Selected Physical Variables among the Intellectually Challenged Children

Abstract

Intellectual disability affects around 2% to 3% of the world's population, with mild intellectual disability affecting 75 to 90% of those affected. In India, the estimated prevalence of ID is 10.5 per 1000 persons. The goal of the study was to figure out inclusive games and physical exercises affected certain physical parameters in children with intellectual disability.45 male children with mild intellectual disabilities (aged 7–15 years) from Vidivelli St. Anne's Rehabilitation Centre for the Mentally Handicapped Children, Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, India, were chosen for this study based on their mental intelligent quotient (IQ) scores ranging from 55 to 69.The 45 subjects were divided into three equal groups of 15 wherein Treatment Group I received inclusive games, Treatment Group II underwent physical exercises, and the control group had no instruction other than their regular activities. The treatment took place over 12 weeks. Muscular endurance was measured by 30 seconds sit-ups test and muscular strength and coordination were measured by the timed chair rising test.To establish the significance of the mean differences, the pre and post-test data were statistically analysed using Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA), when the adjusted test's 'F' ratio was detected to be significant; the Scheffe’s post hoc test was applied. To test the hypotheses, 0.05 was chosen as the level of significance. The statistics reveal that the treatment groups improved significantly on chosen physical parameters when compared to the control group after the training sessions. The physical exercises group outperformed the other two groups in terms of muscular endurance. The inclusive games group also excelled the control group in terms of muscular strength and coordination.