PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Surakka, Airi
AU  - Kivelä, Tero
TI  - THE EFFECT OF A PHYSICAL TRAINING PROGRAMME ON FLEXIBILITY OF UPPER BODY AND TRUNK IN VISUALLY IMPAIRED AND DEAF-BLIND PERSONS
DP  - 2011 Mar 31
TA  - European Journal of Adapted Physical Activity
PG  - 7--21
VI  - 4
IP  - 1
AID - 10.5507/euj.2011.001
IS  - 
AB  - Optimal twist of the trunk, shoulder rotation and reciprocal arm swings are necessary for good balance and gait. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of a multidimensional physical training programme on flexibility of the upper body and trunk in visually impaired and deaf-blind persons. Participants were assigned randomly to the experimental and the control group. Fifteen participants (12 visually impaired and three deaf-blind, mean age 55 years, SD 9.0) completed the 5-6-week long physical training programme (three 60-minute sessions per week). The control group consisted of 14 participants (nine visually impaired and five deaf-blind, mean age 57 years, SD 7.2). Two flexibility tests from the Health-Related Fitness Test battery of the UKK Institute were used to assess the results. The experimental group showed statistically significant improvement in flexibility of the trunk (mean of side-bending to the left and right, p= .0068 Wilcoxon signed rank test). In the experimental group a pre-test showed unrestricted flexibility of the upper body in seven participants. In a post-test four participants showed improved flexibility. The test-retest of the control group showed good reliability of these two tests. The Fligner & Policello rank test did not show any statistical difference between the participants with and without regular physical activity (p= .49)