Die fisieke vermoëprofiel van 10-17-jarige atlete met fisiese gestremdhede

Abstract

According to research (Maher et al. 2007:450), participation in physical activity have health-, psycological, as well as physiological benefits for persons with or without physical disabilities. Participation in physical activity will also lead to improvement of physical fitness. Inactivity is associated with health-related diseases. It is therefore important to improve the physical fitness of athletes with physical disabilities to decrease health risks and to improve their performance in sport. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the physical fitness levels of 10 to 17 year old athletes with physical disabilies, in order to compile physical-ability profiles for spesific classes of participation. A second purpose was to compile exercise recommendations for specific classes of participation to enchance physical ability and reduce health-related diseases. A group (N=83) was selected by the coaches of selected schools in the Free State and Central Gauteng Provinces. Different racial groups [White (n=36), Black (n=46), Coloured (n=l)] formed part of this group. From this group, 56 boys and 27 girls completed the Brockport Physical Fitness Test (BPFT) (Winnick & Short, 1999). For the analysis of the data, the Statistica for Windows computer package, 2008, was used. The physical-ability profiles indicated that most of the athletes have poor aerobic capacity, muscle strength and leg-, hip-, and trunk flexibility. It is further recommended to include 20-30 minutes of aerobic exercises in the programme. To increase muscle strength, 8-12 repetions of an intensity level of 50 - 70 % of the 1RM, 1 - 2 sets and 1 - 2 minutes rest between exercises is recommended. To improve leg-, hip-, and trunk flexibility it is further recommended to inclode stretching of 15 - 30 seconds. These recommendations will improve components of health-related physical fitness and functionality as well as decrease risks of developing health-related diseases.