Thesis (M Sport Sc (Sport Science)--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Functional fitness refers to the physical capacity to perform normal everyday activities safely
and independently without undue fatigue. More specifically, functional fitness refers to
having adequate strength, flexibility, mobility and endurance to execute essential tasks
efficiently and effortlessly. Being functionally fit is important for all populations, but even
more so for populations at risk for loosing functional capacity such as the elderly, disabled,
and those with chronic medical conditions.
Down syndrome individuals form part of the intellectually disabled population and show even
more marked reductions in physical and functional capacities when compared to this already
functionally limited population. Most DS individuals live sedentary lives, are obese, and age
prematurely. For these reasons it is important to develop their functional capacities optimally.
Although standardised tests are available for youngsters with intellectual disability, this is not
the case for DS individuals. This study therefore endeavoured to describe the physical and
functional fitness capacity of DS adults and to determine how much individual physical
attributes contribute to functional capacity.
17 items, of which the validity and reliability have been determined, were included in the test
battery. This included 2 balance tests, 2 flexibility tests, 2 coordination tests, 5 muscular
strength and endurance tests, 2 functional tasks and an aerobic test. A total of 371
individuals from DS centres and institutions across seven provinces in South Africa
volunteered to participate in the study. The study sample was categorised according to
gender and four different age groups (18-25, 26-35, 36-45, >45 years) for further analysis.
DS men were taller, heavier and had a greater arm span and sitting height than DS women.
The majority of the participants were either overweight or obese. DS men performed
significantly better on all but three tests compared to the women. The women performed
better on the sit- and- reach flexibility test and the chair stand test, however, differences
were not statistically significant. Physical test items correlated significantly and strongly to
functional performance in 9 items for DS men and 5 items for DS women. Importantly,
balance items correlated stronger with functional performance in DS women than in DS men.
This is not a new finding and suggests that separate training programs should be developed
for DS men and DS women.
This is the first study of its kind in South Africa and confirms the findings of previous studies
that DS adults have both low physical and functional capacities. They are particularly weak in terms of basic endurance and strength, which have been shown are trainable variables in
DS individuals. The study also provides valuable criterion referenced values for an adult DS
population. This information will assist health professionals in tailoring appropriate training
programs to address functional limitations, as well as the negative health consequences
associated with ageing. This special population thus need the assistance of sport scientists,
as well as the community, to integrate them into special training and activity programs to
improve their quality of life. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING : Funksionele fiksheid verwys na die fisieke kapasiteit om alledaagse aktiwiteite op ‘n veilige
en onafhanklike wyse uit te voer sonder om oormatige vermoeienis te ervaar. Meer spesifiek
beteken funksionele fiksheid dat ‘n person voldoende krag, lenigheid, beweeglikheid en
uithouvermoë besit om essensiële take doeltreffend en moeiteloos te voltooi. Alle populasies
behoort funksioneel fiks te wees, maar dit is self meer belangrik vir populasies wat die risiko
het om hul funksionele kapasiteit te verloor, soos bejaardes, persone met gestremdhede en
diegene met kroniese mediese toestande.
Down sindroom individue is deel van die populasie met intellektueel gestremdhede en hulle
het selfs meer fisieke en funksionele beperkinge as die intellektueel gestremdes. Die meeste
persone met DS het ‘n onaktiewe leefstyl, is vetsugtig en ervaar premature veroudering. Vir
hierdie redes is dit uiters belangrik om hulle funksionele kapasiteit optimaal te ontwikkel.
Hoewel gestandaardiseerde toetse beskikbaar is vir jong persone met intellektueel
gestremdhede, is dit nie die geval met DS individue nie. Hierdie studie was ‘n poging om die
fisieke en funksionele fiksheidkapasiteit van DS volwassenes te beskryf en te bepaal tot
watter mate fisieke eienskappe funksionele kapasiteit bepaal.
17 items, waarvan die geldigheid en herhaalbaarheid bepaal is, is ingelsuit in die
toetsbattery. Dit het die volgende ingesluit: 2 balanstoetse, 2 lenigheidstoetse, 2
koordinasietoetse. 5 spierkrag en uithouvermoë toetse, 2 funksionale take en een aërobiese
toets. ‘n Totaal van 371 individue van DS sentrums en instellings in sewe provinsies in Suid
Afrika het vrywillig ingestem om aan die studie deel te neem. Die steekproef is volgens
geslag en ouderdom in vier kategorieë verdeel (18-25, 26-35, 36-45, >45 jaar) vir verdere
analise.
DS mans was langer, swaarder en het ‘n langer armlengte en sithoogte gehad as DS vroue.
Die meerderheid van die deelnemers was of oorgewig of vetsugtig. DS mans het beduidend
beter as die vroue gevaar in al die toetse, behalwe drie. Die vroue het beter gevaar in die sit
en strek lenigheidstoets en die stoel opstaan toets, maar die verskille was nie statisties
betekenisvol nie. Nege fisieke toetsitems vir mans het sterk en betekenisvol gekorreleer met
funksionele kapasiteit, terwyl 5 items vir vroue betekenisvolle korrelasies gewys het. Balans
items het sterker met funksionele kapasiteit in vroue as in mans gekorreleer. Hierdie is nie ‘n
nuwe bevinding nie en bevestig dat verskillende oefenprogramme vir DS mans en vroue
ontwikkel moet word.
Hierdie is die eerste studie van sy soort in Suid Afrika en bevestig die resultate van vorige
studies dat DS volwassenes beide lae fisieke en funksionele kapasiteite het. Hulle is veral
swak ten opsigte van basiese uithouvermoë en spierkrag, maar beide hierdie veranderlikes
kan by DS persone ingeoefen word. Hierdie studie voorsien ook waardevolle kriterium
verwysingswaardes vir ‘n volasse DS populasie. Hierdie inligting kan persone in die
gesondheidsberoepe help om gepaste oefenprogramme saam te stel om die funksionele
beperkings en negatiewe gesondheidsgevolge wat met veroudering geassosieer word, aan
te spreek. Hierdie spesiale populasie benodig dus die hulp van sportwetenskaplikes, sowel
as die gemeenskap, om hulle te integreer in spesiale oefen- en aktiwiteitsprogramme om
sodoende hulle kwaliteit van lewe te verbeter.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/5263 |
| Date | 12 1900 |
| Creators | Boer, Pieter |
| Contributors | Terblanche, Elmarie, University of Stellenbosch. Faculty of Education. Dept. of Sport Science. |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | 130 p. : ill. |
| Rights | University of Stellenbosch |
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