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Factors affecting dance exercise performance in students at a special needs school
Author(s) -
Ito Yukiko,
Hiramoto Izumi,
Kodama Hideya
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
pediatrics international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.49
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1442-200X
pISSN - 1328-8067
DOI - 10.1111/ped.13338
Subject(s) - medicine , dance , body mass index , physical therapy , intellectual disability , gerontology , art , literature , pathology , psychiatry
Background In Japan, dance exercise has been introduced as a compulsory element of health and physical education, but there is a considerable discrepancy in the levels of performance among students with intellectual disability ( ID ) at special needs schools. The aim of this study was therefore to identify the factors affecting the performance of dance exercise in students with ID . Methods A 4 month dance exercise program was implemented for junior high school students at a special needs school, and the performance of 32 students at 22 sessions was assessed quantitatively according to calorie use during exercise and performance proficiency score. The measures were compared according to gender, age, body mass index, diagnosis, and development quotient ( DQ ) score. Results Performance in many students improved with repetition and reached the highest attainment level at around the third month. Male gender and older age had a significant positive impact on calorie use, whereas diagnosis of Down syndrome and higher DQ score had a significant positive impact on proficiency score. Four students with poor performance were all female students with autism. Conclusion This study provides some possible explanations for differences in the levels of dance performance among students with ID .