The objective of this study was to compare the bone mineral density (BMD) of men with Down syndrome (DS) to otherwise mentally retarded (MR) men and to investigate whether leg muscle strength of these patients is related to BMD. Two groups with MR (with and without DS) participated in the study, having met the following criteria: similar age, moderate to mild mental retardation, Tanner stage V of sexual development, similar age of beginning to walk, and equal motor activities. The DS group consisted of 8 men 23.9 +/- 4.2 years, and the MR group without DS consisted of 8 men 23.5 +/- 3.6 years. The two groups were compared with 10 sedentary students of the same age range (25.9 +/- 2.9 years) attending our University. The BMD of the 2(nd) to 4(th) lumbar vertebrae was measured in the PA projection and the mean density was expressed as g/cm(2). The isokinetic muscle strength of the right quadriceps femoris and hamstrings muscles was measured on a Cybex II isokinetic dynamometer. The value measured was peak torque at angular velocities at 60, 120, and 300 degrees.sec(-1). The results showed that BMD in DS individuals versus young adults (reference group of the scanner) was lower at the 26% level (T-score - 2.66 +/- 0.29) and significantly lower (P = 0.002) than that of the MR group. Significantly different muscle strength was observed between the DS and non-DS MR group (in quadriceps at 300 degrees.s(-1): P < 0.01, at 120 and 60 degrees. s(-1): P < 0.05; in hamstrings at 300 degrees.s(-1): P < 0.05). Higher differences in muscle strength were found between MR and control men, but no significant difference existed in BMD between them. Bivariate correlation showed that quadriceps strength significantly predicted the BMD in the DS patients. Active lifestyle and increased physical exercise to improve muscular strength should be instituted to avoid the development of osteoporosis in DS patients.
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of an aerobic training program on adults with Down syndrome. 25 male adults with Down syndrome (M age = 24.6 yr., [Qs = 45-60) participated in a 12-wk. exercise training study. Subjects were assigned to an experimental group (n = 15) and a control group (n = 10). Pre- and posttraining treadmill tests were performed to determine the following peak physiological parameters: heart rate (HR peak), peak minute ventilation (V(E) peak), peak oxygen consumption (VO2 peak, absolute and relative), and time to exhaustion (min.). The experimental group underwent a 12-wk. interval training program. The control group received no structured exercise training during this period. Following the 12-wk. training program, significant improvements (p < .05) in peak physiological parameters were seen for the experimental group for VO2 peak (both relative and absolute). V(E) peak, and time to exhaustion. No significant improvements in peak physiologic parameters were seen in the control group. Consistent with prior research using similar subjects, we concluded that adults with Down syndrome are able to improve their aerobic capacity when performing a systematic and well-designed aerobic training program.
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of basketball training on the muscle strength of adults with mental retardation (MR). Twenty-four adults with and without MR were separated into 3 groups. Eight adults (mean age 25.4 years) with normal IQ constituted the control group (NIQ). Eight adults (mean age 26.5 years) with MR and all participating in a 4-year systematic basketball exercise program constituted the trained group (MR-T), and 8 adults (mean age 25.3 years) with MR exercised occasionally for recreational reasons formed the MR-R group. Parameters measured were isometric and isokinetic concentric and eccentric muscle strength. All subjects performed a leg strength test on a Cybex Norm isokinetic dynamometer. Analysis of variance was used to examine mean differences between the values of the 3 groups. A significance level of 0.05 was used for all tests. The NIQ group showed a statistically significant difference in all measured values compared to the MR groups. The MR-T group presented higher absolute and relative torque scores for both knee extensors and flexors than the MR-R group, whereas the MR-R group presented statistically higher antagonistic activity for both knee extensors and flexors than the MR-T group. In addition, both MR groups presented statistically higher antagonistic activity for both knee extensors and flexors compared to the NIQ group. Data support participation on a systematic and well-designed basketball training program to improve muscle strength levels of adults with MR. Participation in basketball without necessarily focusing on developing specific fitness components may be an effective training strategy for the promotion of strength of adults with MR.
Children with intellectual disability (ID) demonstrate lower balance ability which results in substantial delays in motor growth and limits their function level. Psychomotor education comprises a holistic movement approach, with the aim to improve all aspects of each child personality. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of a psychomotor education program on static balance of school-aged children with ID. Twenty children with ID who were 8-12 years old participated in the study. They were assigned to 2 groups, 1 experiment and 1 control. The experiment group attended a 16-week psychomotor education program at a frequency of 2 lessons per week, for 45 minutes. All the children who participated in the above measurements had (a) recording of anthropometric characteristics, (b) assessment of motor developmental index, and (c) measurement of static balance. The static balance ability was measured by means of an electronic pressure platform. Each child was requested to keep a quiet stance posture under 4 different conditions: double-leg stance with eyes opened or closed while they observed a visual or visual-auditory target. Participants of the intervention group reduced the values of static balance variables for all the positions. In conclusion, findings of this study clearly indicate that psychomotor education program has an important contribution to make for the most benefit of children with ID in terms of static balance.
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