Effect of Exercise Training with Different Frequencies on Some Factors of Physical and Motor Fitness in Girls with Mental Retardation

Different training frequencies can affect the peoples’ physical fitness in different ways. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effect of exercise training with different sessions on some factors of physical and motor fitness in girls with mental retardation. In the current study, 31 girls with mental retardation (age: 12.06 ± 2.42 years; height: 136.2 ± 15.5 cm; weight: 30.48 ± 12.42 Kg; and IQ: 50-70) from Maryam Special Elementary School in Sabzevar were selected following purposeful sampling and randomly divided into three groups: 1) exercise training with 2 sessions per week, 2) exercise training with 4 sessions per week, and 3) control group. The experimental groups participated in selected trainings program for 8 weeks, with an intensity of 65-75% of reserve heart rate. Before and after the training period, physical and motor fitness tests, including static balance, dynamic balance, muscle force, agility, coordination, and endurance function, were administered. The data were analyzed using the Kolmogorov- Smirnov, one way ANCOVA, and dependent t tests at significance level of P<0.05. The results showed that there is no significant difference between the three groups in the static balance with closed eyes, agility, and endurance function parameters (P>0.05). Dynamic balance and muscle force of the group with exercise training of four sessions per week improved significantly moer than those of two sessions per week and control groups (P<0.05). Static balance with open eyes and coordination were not observed to be significantly different between the two experimental groups (P>0.05). According to the results, both training programs with two and four sessions of training per week improved the static balance with open eyes and coordination indices in girls with mental retardation. The indices of dynamic balance and muscle force improved through training volume with four sessions of training per week. The indices of static balance with closed eyes, agility, and endurance function were not affected by these training programs. Therefore, it may be suggested that girls with mental retardation may apply the selected trainings with frequency of four sessions per week for eight weeks to improve their physical and motor fitness indices.