본 연구는 장기간의 에어로빅운동을 통하여 정신지체인의 체력 및 폐기능에 미치는 영향을 분석하는데 목적이 있다. 치료레크리에이션협회 스포츠단에 소속되어 있는 남자 정신지체인 11명(평균 21.1세)을 대상으로 하여 주 1회, 1회에 60분, 12주간 에어로빅운동을 실시하여 체력(9개 항목)및 폐기능(5개 항목)을 비교 분석한 결과는 다음과 같다. 체력에 있어서 팔굽혀펴기, 악력, 체전굴, 윗몸일으키기, 제자리높이뛰기, 사이드 스텝은 모두 유의하게 증가되었으며, 배근력, 전신반응시간, 눈감고 외발서기는 증가하였으나 유의한 차가 없었다. 폐기능에 있어서는 노력성폐활량(FVC), 최대수의적환기량(MVV), 0.5초간의 노력성호기량(FEV_.5), 최대호기속도(PEF), FVC에 대한 0.5초간의 노력성호기량의 백분율(FVC.5/FVC)은 모든 항목에 있어서 유의하게 증가하였다. 따라서 정신지체인의 체력 및 폐기능에 대하여 에어로빅운동으로 충분히 향상시킬 수 있다.

This study was designed to investigate the effects of aerobic exercise on the physical fitness and the vital capacity in the mentally retarded adults(11 men, 21.1±1.69yr). In order to do this successfully, an aerobic exercise is conducted on the mentally retarded adults, as the object of study, affiliated with Pusan Therapeutic Recreation Association for 12 weeks, 60 minutes everytime, once a week. As a result of this study, the conclusions are obtained as follows: 1. Grip strength, trunk flexion forward, side-step, sit-ups, sargent jump and push-ups were significant difference in pre and post aerobic exercise. 2. Back strength, stork stand and whole body reaction timer were no significant difference in pre and post aerobic exercise. However, there is no significant difference among them in their after their 12 weeks` aerobic exercise. 3. Forced vital capacity (FVC), maximal voluntary ventilation (MVV), forced expiratory volume for 0.5 second for FVC (FVC.5/FVC(%)), peak expiratory flow (PEF) and forced expiratory volume for 0.5 second (FEV.5) were significant difference in pre and post aerobic exercise. Therefore, it can be seen that 12 weeks` aerobic exercise results in making much progress in the development of their physical fitness and vital capacity. In this respect, it is expected that much more various and advanced research of rehabilitation and exercise programs for the handicapped would be needed.