Olga Ilyushechkina

School №1944, Moscow, Russia

Development of physical qualities of the children with CP by the methods of adaptive physical education

Actuality. Cerebral palsy (CP) is a group of permanent movement problems that leads not only to uncontrollable movements such as trembling or shaking but also causes disorder with speech and language, difficulties with thinking, learning, feeling, communication and behavior.

A group of permanent disorders of the development of movement and posture, causing activity limitation underlies the clinical picture of CP. The emotions of the children with CP are qualitatively different from the ones with normal development. That is due to the affection of the brain. Such children are shy, emotionally labile, they are prone to being scared easily. Their emotional and volitional sphere is hypersensitive to different external stimulus, such as bright light and loud sound. There are deep personal reactions like touchiness and experience of felling of physical imperfection. There is an argued question about the correlation between the level of emotional dysfunction and permanent movement problems. Some authors think that there is a direct relationship the harder is the movement dysfunction the more pronounced are mental disorder.

The importance of the problem of CP is vital due to the increasing spreading and social meaning of this disorder that leads to severe physical disability. There are a lot of different techniques for rehabilitation of the children with CP at the present time. But the role of physical development of the kids with CP still remains underestimated.

Adaptive Physical Education (APE) – is the part of the people with physical disabilities’ rehabilitation program. APE is aimed at the ultimate development of viability of the person with physical disabilities. The ways and the methods of APE when used properly serve to increasing in locomotor activity, health and efficiency etc. Also, APE can be used in order to satisfy the need in emotions, motion, communication and cognition. Inside the system of APE, the provision of motor activity is the task of foremost importance. The motor activity needs in order to activate correction and/or compensation of movement disorders that are needed for development of physical qualities. Therefore, the main feature of APE is that each exercise has a correctional orientation. And in case of repetition each exercise has a developmental orientation.

Purpose of the work: To develop physical qualities of the children with CP with the means of APE.

Object of study: 20 pupils at the age of 11 with CP. Research group consist of 8 female (40%) and 12 male (60%) pupils. All the parties in my research group are right-handers. All their parents signed the written agreement for the participation in the research.

Methods: All methods I have used aimed at the development of physical qualities of the kids with CP. For five weeks (4 times a week) in APE lesson the kids were suggested some exercises that were chosen in view of their age and type of their CP. The physical qualities were evaluated with the control tests at the beginning the end of research. The children were already familiar with the exercises performed during the study. The coordination abilities were evaluated due to the duration (in seconds) of performance of the exercises such as: Standing On One Foot. The strength was evaluated by counting knee push-ups. Physical stamina was evaluated by duration (in seconds) of hanging on the wall bars (face to the wall). Each party was given 3 attempts. The best one was brought to the control table.

Research results. At the end of the study, the coordination abilities of male parties increased on the average by 18.0%. The coordination abilities of female parties remained the same. The positive dynamics while performing exercised standing on the right foot is 3.0%, standing on left foot – none.

The strength of the parties is definitely increased: male - for 22.8%, female - for 37.5%.

While performing the control exercise in the male group results got better for 21.3%, in female group - for 28.6%.

During the whole period of the study there was a constant pedagogical supervision. At the beginning of the study, children were a bit uncomfortable, they felt anxiety because of their physical imperfection. During the study, having made the exercises over and over again helped not only with their technique’s improvement but also formed an important need that reflects the positive attitude and zest for life.

Conclusion. The children with CP need APE and make a big progress if they go in for APE regularly and correctly. APE definitely helps the kids with CP to socialize better and increases quality their lives.