Physical activity has a big impact on the quality of life of people with visual impairment. Physical activity contributes to mobility of an individual, managing everyday living skills and general ability to function normally in everyday situations. Because people with visual impairment are a heterogeneous group, the teacher for the visually impaired has to know how to measure and encourage physical activity and take into account their interests and abilities. Once the person accepts the physical activity, an optimal rehabilitation program will be created. The programme should include individual's goals and those of one's social network. Due to lack of physical activity and ageing of the population the development of secondary illnesses and obesity is a possibility, that consequently affects the person's motor skills. In order to avoid development of secondary diseases, obesity and social isolation physical activity is necessary.
In this master's thesis the quality of life in connection with physical activity of persons with visual impairment has been specified. In the research there was 30 participant, 12 women and 18 men, 8 blind and 22 with low vision. Based on the responses of participants, aged 18 and above, we have identified the extent of the connection between the physical activity and the quality of life. The quality of life was measured with Impact of Visual Impairment (Weih, Hassell in Keeffe, 2002). The questionnaire measures the impact of visual impairment on quality of life within orientation and mobility, access to information and psychosocial aspects. The answers are recorded with Likart scale from 0 to 10. The physical activity was measured with International Physical Activity Questionnaire – long form (Craig, Marshall, Sjostrom, Bauman, Booth, Ainsworth, Pratt, Ekelund, Yngve, Sallis in Oja, 2003). In the evaluation of physical activity the questionnaire includes indoor and outdoor activities as well as physical activities in the work place, in their free time and while sitting. It is measured with minutes of physical activity per day for the last week.
The results show that levels of general physical activity of people with visual impairments are low and moderate. General physical activity is divided into different domains. The domains of domestic and gardening activities and leisure-time physical activity show a moderate level of physical activity. Work-related physical activity and transport-related physical acitivity show low levels of physical activity for people with visual impairments. Physical activity affects the individuals quality of life. Inside the physical activity and quality of life the results show no differences in gender, age, category of visual impairment and time of onset of visual impairment.
|