Effects of Exercises for Fundamental Movement Skills in Mentally Retarded Children

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to test the effects of physical training in motor skills in mentally retarded children. Throughout this process various types of motor skills are used. Methods: Twelve mentally retarded children aged between 3-6 years participated in this study between March and June 2006. This study was performed in a pretest-training-posttest design. Children were trained and than scored on 11 fundamental movement skills based on the motor development part of the Portage Early Childhood Education Program Control Lists by a single observer. An exercise program was recruited for those children and they participated in this program during 26 sessions. Results: Statistically significant differences were found in walking, running, jumping, balance, trampoline, rope-ribbon tests and obstacle set skills in pre-and post-test results (p<0.01). Conclusion: In this sample and setting, training of the fundamental movement skills support motor development of mentally retarded children.