Investigation of the Effect of Physical Development of Students on Water Therapy Education Training Program which is applied to Autistic Students

Abstract Original Research Article

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 autistic students.

24 students (16 men, 8 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 three 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. It was determined

the volunteer instructors who have taken the lessons of disabilities in physical education and sport , trepotic

reaction and disabilities in program development and planning for practise the special movement education

program. Trainers were trained with giving 2 seminars. Also graduate students who will make observations and

interviews in studies were determined and interview forms were created. The observation and interviews in th

research were interpreted and reported as a qualitative research.

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.

Keywords: Autistic, water theraphy, trepotic reaction, exercise.