Effects of Smartphone Activities on Postural Balance in Adolescents with Intellectual Disabilities

Abstract

Considering the rising prevalence of smartphone usage among adolescents with intellectual disabilities and their frequent motor challenges, understanding its impact on their physical well-being is important. This study aims to investigate the impact of smartphone activities on postural balance in adolescents with intellectual disabilities. Two groups of adolescents participated in the study: an intellectual disability group (IDG) (n = 16) and atypical development group (TDG) (n = 12). Static postural balance, using a stabilometric platform on firm and foam surfaces, and dynamic balance, using the Timed Up-and-Go Test (TUGT), were performed under various conditions, such as playing a game, watching videos, video calls, and listening to music. The center of pressure (CoP) values significantly increased (p < 0.05) during all smartphone activities (except listening to music) compared to the control condition in both groups, with the IDG demonstrated a more pronounced increase (p < 0.05) during playing video games and video calls on the firm surface. TUGT scores significantly increased (p < 0.05) during smartphone activities, with greater changes observed in the IDG (p < 0.05), and significantly decreased (p < 0.01) during listening to music in both groups. Our study suggests that adolescents with intellectual disabilities need special tools and guidance to ensure their safety and well-being when using smartphones.

The Impact of Aerobic Dance Intervention on Postural Balance in Children: A Randomized Controlled Trial

“…In addition, the constant changes in direction and speed inherent in aerobic dance routines challenge the vestibular system [32,78], which plays a key role in balance and spatial orientation. This can challenge the body to adapt quickly to different stimuli, improving proprioception, coordination, and postural balance in challenging dynamic movements such as ML and AP seesaw bipedal conditions [79].…”

The influence of cognitive load and vision variability on postural balance in adolescents with intellectual disabilities

“…Participants were instructed to maintain a stable bipedal stance on a static stabilometric platform (PostureWin©, Techno Concept ® , Cereste, France) while barefoot. This platform, known for its precision with a sampling frequency of 40 Hz and 12-bit A/D conversion, has been extensively used in postural studies involving individuals with ID (17,(28)(29)(30)(31)(32), providing evidence for its validity and suitability. The experiment included five visual conditions: OE, CE, Flash, Goggles, and VS.…”

“…As a result, the integration of sensory inputs necessary for maintaining postural stability is compromised, contributing to increased postural sway. Individuals with ID experience heightened challenges in integrating proprioceptive input without adequate visual cues leading to further decreased postural balance (15,17,48). Hence, the reasons why brightness from a phone's flash or wearing goggles have more pronounced effects than others in this population may stem from the intensity of the perturbation, individual differences in sensory processing, as well as the specific nature of the visual distortion induced by these perturbations.…”

“…As a result, individuals may experience decreased postural balance and cognitive functioning when engaging in DT activities. Consequently, as individuals with ID engage in cognitive tasks concurrently with postural control, cognitive resources that could have been allocated to maintaining balance are diverted, leading to compromised balance performance (13, [15][16][17][18]. The increase is exacerbated by the difficulty of cognitive tasks, indicating the intricate interaction between cognitive and motor functions in this population.…”

“…This increased cognitive load can impair their ability to effectively allocate attention and cognitive resources toward maintaining postural balance (14). Previous studies have indicated that individuals with ID often face difficulties when concurrently performing motor tasks, including postural balance, and cognitive activities, introducing an additional layer of complexity to their motor control difficulties (15)(16)(17)(18). This simultaneous engagement may impact their proficiency in managing daily activities.…”