Investigating the Effects of Rehabilitation Program Based on Spark Motor Method on Motor Skills and Emotional Intelligence in Students with Visual Impairment in Isfahan

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of rehabilitation program based on Spark motor method on motor skills and emotional intelligence in students with visual impairment in Isfahan in 2020. Method: In this quasi-experimental study, which was performed as a pretest-posttest with a control group, 30 students with visual impairment in Isfahan (mean age 12.17 years) were selected by using available sampling method and randomly divided into two groups of experimental (n = 15) and control (n = 15). The rehabilitation program based on physical activity (Spark movement method) was performed for 8 weeks, three sessions per week and 60 minutes each session for the experimental group. The control group did not receive any exercise during this period. At the beginning and the end of the rehabilitation program, motor skills indexes and emotional intelligence in both groups were evaluated using the standard emotional intelligence shot questionnaire (Shot et al, 1998) and Bruninks-Oseretsky test of motor proficiency (1972) in similar conditions. Data were analyzed using covariance and multivariate covariance analysis. Results: The results showed that physical activity-based rehabilitation programs had a significant effect on motor skills indices in students with visual impairment in Isfahan (P≤0.05). Also, the effect of exercise program on emotional intelligence was significant (P≤0.05). Conclusion: These findings indicate that physical activity-based rehabilitation programs are effective on motor skills and emotional intelligence in students with visual impairments. Therefore, it is recommended that visually impaired practitioners, coaches, parents, and comedians use this method to develop and improve sports performance and intelligence.