Does physical activity improve adaptive behaviour, fitness, and quality of life of adults with intellectual disability?

Abstract

The effects of a physical activity program on adaptive behaviour, motor proficiency, fitness, and quality of life of 16 adults with intellectual disability (ID) were analysed. Portuguese versions of Adaptive Behavior Scale, Personal Outcomes Scale, Bruininsky-Oseretsky Motor Proficiency Test, and Fullerton scale were applied twice before, after, and one month after the program. Mann-Whitney and Wilcoxon tests were used and Bonferroni manual correction was performed to establish a new p-value. The control group stabilized performance over time, the experimental group improved in most domains, such as socialization (p <0.005), responsibility (p <0.005), and arm curl (p <0.01). Our findings call for tailor-made interventions to improve PA levels among adults with ID.