Effects of Two Intervention Programs on Physical Fitness and Quality of Life Among People With Intellectual Disabilities

Condition(s) studied

Investigational drug(s) / intervention(s)

Traditional physical conditioning: The traditional multi-component training group will perform 60 minutes of training per session, 2 days a week for 8 weeks. The program includes: A 5-minute warm-up, which includes joint mobility exercises led by the instructor. A 45-minute main phase, which includes targeted endurance and strength training using a circuit-based approach. Exercises include medicine ball squats, medicine ball thrusters, seated resistance band rows, and chest presses. The circuit is completed once, and the duration of each exercise will increase linearly, starting with 60 seconds per station in week 1 and progressing to 90 seconds in week 8, with a fixed 1-minute rest between exercises. A 5-minute cool-down session that includes relaxation exercises.

Sport-based individual skills: The sports skills group will conduct 60-minute training sessions twice a week for 8 weeks, following the Special Olympics Individual Skills model. The sessions follow the same structure. A 5- to 10-minute warm-up consisting of a fun, sport-related game designed to increase heart rate and motivation. The main part lasts 45 minutes, during which different skills for each sport are practiced, such as shooting, passing, dribbling, and coordination. The sports covered are soccer, basketball, floorball, track and field, and boccia. There are 3 sessions per sport, following a progression of skill difficulty. The exercises have a playful approach, structured as challenges and competitions. At the end of each sport, a few minutes of real-game situations will be included among all participants. The 5-minute cool-down includes a low-intensity activity and group reflection on the session.

Study summary

Intellectual Disability (ID) is characterized by limitations in cognitive functioning and adaptive behavior, often leading to a sedentary lifestyle and lower quality of life. The main objective of this study is to compare the efficacy of two different 8-week training programs on physical fitness and quality of life in adults with ID. The work methodology consists of a randomized controlled trial with two intervention groups:

Experimental Group 1 (EG1): Traditional conditioning including strength and resistance exercises (medicine ball, rowing, and coordination circuits).

Experimental Group 2 (EG2): Sport-based individual skills program (Special Olympics model) covering soccer, basketball, athletics, and other sports with a playful approach.

The sample will be composed of sedentary adults with a clinical diagnosis of ID. The variables studied pre- and post-intervention include body composition, physical fitness (agility, strength, and cardiorespiratory capacity), blood pressure, and quality of life using the INICO-FEAPS scale.

Eligibility

Primary outcome measure(s)

• Changes in Time Up and Go from baseline at week 8 — Two times. Baseline and 8 weeks later.
  The subject must stand up from a chair, walk to a mark 3 meters away, and return to the starting position while sitting down as quickly as possible; they will have two attempts.

Trial sites (1)

More Universidad Católica San Antonio de Murcia trials in Spain