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Background The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the effects of dual‐task (DT) constraints on walking performance in children with intellectual disability (ID). Methods Fifteen children with intellectual disability and fifteen age‐matched typically developed children were asked to walk at a preferred speed: along a path (baseline condition), while carrying a glass of water and while quoting animal names. Results The present study findings showed that DTs affect walking performance of both typically developed children and those with intellectual disability. In children with intellectual disability, DT walking decrements were significantly higher when performing a concurrent motor task than cognitive one. Conclusions DT constraints with a secondary motor or cognitive tasks seemed challenging for children with intellectual disability suggesting that future treatments or assessments should consider using DT constraints to manipulate the difficulty of tasks.

We suggest that HJP training is more recommended to improve postural capacities in children with intellectual disability.

Intellectual disability is a complex dysfunction difficult to define accurately. According to Schalock et al. (2010), it is characterized by meaningful limitations in intellectual functioning and adaptive behaviour, expressed in conceptual, social and practical adaptive skills (Schalock et al., 2010). Many individuals with intellectual disabilities experience motor impairments. In this context, it has been demonstrated that people with intellectual disabilities have gait problems (Oppewal et al., 2018). Specifically, one of the most common problems seen in people with intellectual disabilities is the decreased postural balance. In fact, several studies show that they present lim-

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Our purpose was to compare the effects of Ramadan fasting on postural control in elderly fallers and non-fallers. The protocol involved twenty-four healthy old volunteer males divided into two groups: fallers (mean age = 75.43 ± 5.26 years, weight = 67.25 ± 5.30 kg and height = 1.65 ± 0.02 m) and non-fallers (mean age = 72.3 ± 6.42 years, weight = 65.5 ± 6.15 kg and height = 1.64 ± 0.03 m). Participants performed a simple reaction time test (SRT) and a postural control protocol on four different occasions: one week before Ramadan (BR), during the second (SWR) and the fourth week (FWR) of Ramadan and three weeks after Ramadan (AR). Center of pressure (CoP) parameters [the CoP medial-lateral length (CoP), and the CoP antero-posterior length (CoP)] were assessed using a force platform under two surface conditions: Firm surface and Foam surface. The results showed that Ramadan fasting influences similarly fallers and non-fallers. In fact, for both groups, the CoP and the CoP values increased significantly during the SWR and the FWR compared to BR. These CoP parameters decreased significantly in the Firm surface conditions in the FWR. Moreover, the CoP parameters were significantly higher during the FWR and AR in comparison with BR in the Foam surface conditions. However, the amplitude of increase of the CoP % and the CoP % (ΔCoP % and ΔCoP %) between BR and the SWR was significantly higher in the fallers than non-fallers. The SRT of elderly fallers and non-fallers was significantly higher in the SWR and in the FWR compared to BR. In conclusion, Ramadan fasting alters similarly postural control of elderly fallers and non-fallers, but the amplitude (ΔCoP % and ΔCoP %) of this alteration seems to be more pronounced in fallers than non-fallers. A probable beginning of adaptation occurs at the FWR. However, three weeks seems to be insufficient to recover postural control alterations due to Ramadan fasting in difficult sensory conditions in elderly fallers and non-fallers.

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