Proprioception among Intellectually Typical and Differentially Diagnosed Educable Mentally Retarded Boys

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine differences on selected non-tactile proprioceptive tasks among intellectually typical boys and educable mentally retarded boys who were diagnosed as non-brain-damaged, brain-damaged, or undifferentiated by EEG interpretations, neurological examinations and supportive life histories. Within the limits of this study, it may be concluded that the function of the kinesthesis receptors is relatively unimpaired in educable mentally retarded children. The mentally retarded groups performed better on tests which required less integration of stimuli from both the vestibular and kinesthetic sensory media than on the balance test where greater integration of stimuli from both the vestibular and kinesthetic senses was needed for success.