The Effect of Physical Fitness Activities on High School Autistic Students’ Cardiovascular Endurance Fitness Levels

Author/Creator

Author/Creator ORCID

Date

2019-05-14

Department

Program

Masters of Education

Citation of Original Publication

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Abstract

The purpose of this study was to observe whether the implementation of extra physical fitness activities during a general education physical education class would help to increase the cardiovascular endurance fitness levels of high school autistic students. The study consisted of a descriptive design with the inclusion of testing the participants prior to and after the intervention of physical activity exercises were implemented. Participants completed the Progressive Aerobic Cardiovascular Endurance Run, or P.A.C.E.R. test, in order to determine if their cardiovascular endurance level would increase after the 5 week implementation of the extra physical fitness activities done during their general education physical education class. It was determined that the implementation of the activities did increase the students’ cardiovascular endurance fitness level. More research needs to be conducted in order to study whether the implementation of physical fitness activities in the beginning of a general education physical education class is effective in increasing the cardiovascular endurance fitness level of high school autistic students.