2011 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

Study on the physical fitness level and measurement methods for people with visual impairment and blindness

Research Project

Project/Area Number	21500581
Research Category	Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
Allocation Type	Single-year Grants
Section	一般
Research Field	Sports science
Research Institution	Tsukuba University of Technology
Principal Investigator	KOHDA Yasuko 筑波技術大学, 障害者高等教育研究支援センター, 准教授 (50234696)
Project Period (FY)	2009 – 2011
Keywords	視覚障害者 / 体力 / 測定方法
Research Abstract	The purpose of this study is to clarify the features of the physical fitness level of people with visual impairment and blindness and the measurement methods for them. The fitness level of visually-impaired people is lower than that of sighted people, especially in the blind people. In visually-impaired people the fitness level is higher in the group having the habit of sport activity than that of the group which does not have it. In school fitness level quickness test it is suitable for blind people to use the Burpee Test which does not require visual information, rather than the Side Step Test which requires visual information. Also, to measure the endurance fitness with 20m Shuttle Run Test the support by a guide runner or use of appropriate auditory information is recommended.