Effectiveness of physical education programme on component of abdominal strength endurance amongst physically challenged pupils at Kolwal special school Kenya

Abstract

Abdominal strength Endurance is important to good health because low levels are associated with bad posture and low back pain in later years. Children who are physically challenged have lowered fitness levels than their peers due to limited opportunities to exercise (Rehabilitation International, 1991,UNICEF 2013).The objectives of this study was to: (1)Assess the demographic characteristics of the Study participants. (2) Examine impact of physical Education Programme on Anthropometric measurements of the study participant.(3)Evaluate the impact of physical Education programme on abdominal strength endurance of physically challenged children in Kenya across gender. In this study abdominal strength endurance of children with physical disabilities were measured using Project UNIQUE fitness test by Winnick and Short. The study sample comprised of 17 boys and 14 Girls (N=31) and the study site was Kolwal special school in Kenya. Pretest and posttest design was used in this study. A pretest was carried out two weeks after school opening and a posttest eight weeks later at the end of the treatment period. Data collected was descriptively analyzed and one way ANOVA computed to determine the significance of difference between pretest and posttest means on the dependent variables under investigations by gender. The Null hypothesis were rejected at <0.05 level of significance. The results established significant difference between pretest and posttest on abdominal strength Endurance and body weight. Boys performed better than Girls, but both genders registered marked improvements after the treatment period. However, the program had no impact on participants’ height. Study recommends that P.E teachers and program developers to design programs that enhance capacity of children with physical disabilities in order to improve health-related fitness components. Study further recommends that physical Education should be encouraged in all schools catering for children with disabilities and that this current study to be replicated on other disability categories e.g. those with Visual Impairments and intellectual disabilities in Kenya.

Keywords: Physically challenged, abdominal strengths endurance and physical education programme.