ABSTRACT

The aim of this research is, the effect of physical and emotional development of students on the water therapy training program which is applied to mentally retarded.

14 students (8 men , 6 women) who study in the special education and rehabilitation center have been participated to this research. These students are between 10 and 18 years of age. The special movement education program has been made for trepotic reaction in the pool by special education expert and physical education sport faculty for the students. This special movement education program has been developed considering the exercises of force , flexibility, ability and balance. It was obtained permission from parents of students and corporate executives for this program.

This program was performed two months , two days in each week and 60-90 minutes in each day. The observation of workouts from the begging and end of the exercises was saved . Also, it was negotiated with parents of students and taking options about the development of the workout were recorded.

According to the research observations , it was observed that before the studies students hesitate entering the water, they are afraid and beware to do the exercises, failed to do the movements and do not want to leave their parents. After the research process, it was observed that students wanted to enter the water immidiately, they did the exercises with fun , managed the all exercises which were shown after 2-3 again and they wanted from their parents to go out of the pool during the studies.

In interviews with parents , they expressed that their children woke up early for coming to the special education and rehabilitation center in the day of pool studies , they wanted to prepare their pool staff , they came to the center happily and they were much more calm and were obedient after when they went home and they had more comfortable sleep.

According to the research it has been reached that water therapy training program of children who take special education  contributed positively to the physical ,social and pyschological development of them.

Key words: Mentally Retarded, water theraphy, thereapeutic recreaction, exercise.