CHARACTERISTICS OF PHYSICAL QUALITY OF JUNIOR SCHOOLCHILDREN SUFFERING FROM DISORDERS IN INTELLECTUAL DEVELOPMENT

Some development features of physical qualities of junior schoolchildren suffering from disorders in intellectual development are considered. Specialised literature which contains the main theoretical positions on this category of children has been analysed. Other factors that influence the morphofunctional development of children with intellectual disabilities are described. One of the main reasons that makes it difficult for these children to develop motor skills and abilities is a disorder of motor skills, which has a negative effect not only on their physical development, but also on the socialization of an individual, the development of his / her cognitive and labour activity, the subsequent social and labour adaptation after finishing school. Correction of motor disorders by means of physical training is an obligatory and important direction of corrective-educational work targeted to the children with intellectual disabilities, since the process of physical education significantly influences the development of personal qualities and, to a certain extent, the formation of their cognitive activity. It is known that children with intellectual disabilities have a number of additional deviations in their development, in particular in the physical one, mainly manifested in their limited communication with other children alongside with their actions directed at objects, a decrease in motor activity and, as a consequence, functional loads. Furthermore, these children have specific deviations in the motor sphere: disorder in movement coordination and accuracy, limited movements of hands and fingers, inadequate spatial-temporal perception, pathological manifestations of cervical-tonic reflexes, and the like. A study targeted to junior schoolchildren with intellectual disorders (in contradistinction to their peers demonstrating normal development) regarding the development features of their physical qualities – speed, strength and coordination abilities, to be more precise, ‒ was made. According to the results of the study we can state that the children with intellectual disabilities lag behind in physical development in comparison with those ones who develop in compliance with physical norms; their gender and age peculiarities are analysed.