The effect of a physical fitness program on the health-related physical fitness components of blind male students

BACKGROUND: The number of people with visual impairment in the world is estimated at 285 million; 39 million of them suffer from total blindness, The aims of this research to know how much impact the physical fitness program may have on the health-related fitness elements of blind male students (15-18 years old). The experimental method was used on a sample of nine blind male students at the Visually Impaired Center, in the town of Tlemcen. These students were chosen randomly. METHODS: Various tests were applied. namely the one-mile running test, the push-ups and sit ups tests the test of flexibility, we also measured skin folds in three different areas, i.e. chest. abdomen and mid-thigh. RESULTS: The results obtained indicated that there are statistically significant differences between the pretests and posttests, in favor of the posttests. for all the health-related physical fitness elements (VO2max, upper limb strength, muscular endurance, lower limb strength, Body fat percentage). CONCLUSIONS: It was found that it is highly recommended to pay great attention to the condition of health-related physical components of the blind and also to provide specialized professors in the field of motor activity in special centers for the visually impaired.