Comparison the Impact of Spark Motor Program and Basketball Techniques on Improving Gross Motor Skills in Educable Intellectually Disabled Boys

Different types of practises are known for improving motor skills in intellectually disabled boys. The purpose of this study was to compar e the impact of spark motor program and basketball on improving of gross motor skills in this people. In this semi-experimental study, from 98 educable intellectually disabled students who studied in special school in Urmia, 30 children (age range of 9 to 13 years and IQ mean 64.4) were selected objectively and divided in three groups (2 experimental and 1 control) based on pre - test. BOTMP was used as a measurement of motor ability. Selected motor program (Spark motor program) including strengthening training, games, sports and basketball techniques was performed for 24 sessions. T-tests (dependent) and co-variance were used to comparison of results. In Spark group after 24 sessions, there were significant effects on balance (p= 0.000), bilateral coordination (p=0.000) and strength (p=0.001). There was no significant effect in agility and speed (p= 0.343) in basketball techniques group after 24 sessions, there were significant effects in agility and speed (p= 0.001), balance (p= 0.000), bilateral coordination (p= 0.013) and strength (p= 0.007). Based on the results of this study, it can be claimed that the Spark program and basketball techniques improve gross motor skills in educable intellectually disabled students. We also found a significant difference between the Spark program and basketball techniques efficacy on the improved skills. Furthermore, the efficacy of Spark program was significantly higher than basketball techniques (p<0.05).