Abstract

Compared to the population of the able-bodied athletes, there is a dearth of information and literature on the physical, physiological and motor performance characteristics of disabled athletes. This view becomes more apparent when the nature of disability is brought into focus in relation to sports performance. This study was motivated by the urge to establish whether or not there were significant differences in selected physical, physiological and motor performance variables vital to success in competitive sporting activities among athletes with mental and physical disabilities. The participants of the study comprised 16 male (age, 12.2 ± 3.10 years) and 17 female (age, 12.4 ± 3.12 years) athletes with mental retardation (MR) and 1 male (age, 11.0 years) and 12 female (age, 29.3 ± 9.03 years) athletes with physical disabilities (PD). The physical variables compared included the age, height, weight, circumferences and length of limbs. The physiological variables were the body densities, LBW and % body-fat while the performance measures included trunk flexibility, muscular strength, endurance and power of the participants. The procedure of the International Society for the Advancement of Kinanthropometry (ISAK) was adopted while data were computed using the t-test for independent samples and Ancova. With an initial t-test analysis, results showed significant differences in some physical and physiological factors of % body-fat, height, weight and lean body weight (LBW) between athletes with MR and PD while the athletes with PD had more % body-fat, height, weight & LBW than those with MR. A similar trend was observed in the performance characteristics of the 2 groups, whereby the muscular strength, endurance and trunk flexion of the athletes with PD were better than those with MR; but with similarities in their trunk extension capacities. It is pertinent to note, however, that these results were probably influenced by age factor; as the athletes with PD were significantly older in age than those with MR. ANCOVA was therefore applied to the data. This nullified all apparent significant differences except the sex specific fat% for adults only and the trunk flexion on the athletes. Comparative studies of this nature are recommended particularly as persons with disabilities are involved in paralympic games and other competitive sports. Verf.-Referat