Measuring physical fitness in Persons with Severe/Profound ...

Components of physical fitnessThe attributes of physical fitness can be defined differently for different target groups [U.S.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] and therefore, physical fitness for persons withSPIMD needs to be described. Hilgenkamp et al. [42] stated that “physical fitness describeshow “fit” a person physically is to cope with the demands set by his or her environment” anddescribed physical fitness for older people with ID in a model (table 1) [U.S. Centers for DiseaseControl and Prevention; 26, 41, 42].Based on this model, the required attributes of physical fitness for persons with SPIMD aredescribed by caregivers, professionals and scientists in the field of SPIMD. Coordination, reactiontime and muscle endurance are considered irrelevant attributes for individuals with such limitedcognitive and physical skills.Caregivers of persons with profound intellectual, visual and locomotor disabilities (profoundintellectual and multiple disabilities, PIMD) often describe the quality of daily movements interms of ‘flexibility’ or ‘stiffness’. Since muscular flexibility is one of the defined physical fitnesscomponents for persons with PIMD, muscle tonus or level of spasticity may be used as outcomemeasures to objectify the concepts of ‘flexibility’ and ‘stiffness’.Hence, the required attributes of physical fitness for persons with SPIMD are bodycomposition, cardiorespiratory fitness, balance, muscle strength and muscle flexibility (table 1).Table 1. Model of components of physical fitness for older persons with ID [U.S. Centers for Disease Control andPrevention; 26, 41, 42].Health-related physicalU.S. Centers forPhysical fitness ofPhysical fitness offitnessDisease Control andolder adults with IDpersons with PIMDBouchard et al. (1994)Prevention(Hilgenkamp et al.2010)MotorCoordinationCoordinationReaction timeReaction timeBalanceBalanceBalanceMuscularMuscular strengthMuscular strengthMuscular strengthMuscular enduranceMuscular enduranceFlexibilityFlexibilityFlexibilityCardiorespiratoryCardiorespiratoryfitnessCardiorespiratoryfitnessCardiorespiratoryfitnessMorphologicalBody compositionBody compositionMetabolicChapter 1 | 15