Physical Ability Necessary for Employment of the Disabled People

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This study was designed to assess the minimum level of physical ability necessary for employment of the mentally and physically disabled. Out of 96 institutions contacted randomly in Kyushuu,82 reported conducting gaily physical activity. In order to assess the physical intensity level during work, heart rates of subjects who succeeded in getting and keeping a job for more than two years were measured during daily work-related included work in a food company, on a farm, at a concrete manufacturer, and in a rice store. Heart rates for the mentally disabled subjects were between 82 and 131 beats per minute with a mean value of 116. The physically disabled subjects obtained jobs requiring moderate physical activity such as word processing and clerical positions. Their heart rates were between 72 and 103 with mean value of 84 beats per minute. The physical ability of the subjects(measured in muscle strength, muscle power, physical flexibility, and endurance) was 82% of the average value for a non-disabled control group. A second control group of disabled but unemployed adults showed an average value of 65% of the non-disabled control group in the same test categories. The back and grip strength of the subject group were 82% that of the non-disabler group. On the walking endurance test,disabled subjects showed a higher average heart rate (14-33%) than the control group. These results suggest that the minimum level of physical ability for employment of the disabled lies around 80% of the non-disabled.