Effect of gymnastics exercises on balance ability of autistic children

Abstract

The objective of the study was to find out the effects of Gymnastics Exercises on Balance Ability of Autistic Children. A sample of twenty four (N= 24) boys age ranged between 10 to 14 years from Astha Rehabilitation Centre, Mohali, (Punjab) were purposively selected to act as participants for this experimental investigation. The chosen subjects were divided into four groups with six children in each group namely Group-A, B, C and Group D (Control Group). The daily, weekly and monthly Gymnastics exercise training schedule was prepared with the help of experts for all three experimental groups. Group-A was given gymnastics exercises training programme for six days in a week, Group-B was given this treatment (gymnastics exercises training) thrice a week and Group-C was exposed to the gymnastics exercises training programme only once in a week for sixteen weeks. Group-D as a control group did not receive any treatment except their daily routine programme of the institute. Flamingo Balance Test (Kansal, 2012) was conducted to evaluate the Balance ability of the subjects. To observe the significance of mean difference in scores of Balance ability of autistic subjects of each group, Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) was applied. Results revealed significant differences F-ratio [F(3,19)=12.25, p=0.001]. Scheffe’s Post hoc test was carried out to see the degree and direction of differences in adjusted means of balance ability of Autistic children. The outcome of the study revealed that the maximum balance ability was significantly improved in experimental Group-A (mean =10.37) followed by Group-B (M=12.13) and Group-C (M=14.26) respectively. However, insignificant improvement was reported in control Group-D (M=16.07) with respect to the variable balance ability. Hence, it may be concluded that higher the frequency of specific gymnastics exercises training programme, more will be the improvement of balance ability among autistic children. Further, it is also concluded that specific gymnastics programme tend to play a key role in improving their balance ability and the disability of an individual does not hinder one's physical performance