Lifestyle related risk factors for poor health in residential settings for people with intellectual disabilities

Health‐promoting physical activity of adults with mental retardation

“…Similar findings have been reported in a few studies from England using the criteria of at least 12 bouts of 20 minutes of moderate (Ͼ5 and Ͻ7.5 kcal/ min) to vigorous (Ն7.5 kcal/min) activity occurring over 4 weeks [Messent et al, 1998b;Robertson et al, 2000;Emerson, 2005]. This threshold had been identified as offering some protection against coronary heart disease [Department of Health, 1995] and the proportion of participants meeting this criterion ranged from 4 to 20%.…”

“…Persons with severe or profound MR frequently experience co-occurring conditions such as medical complications and mobility limitations [O'Brien et al, 2002], which make physical activity more difficult. Including more persons with severe or profound MR will, in all probability, further reduce overall rates of physical activity among persons with MR [Robertson et al, 2000;Emerson, 2005]. It should also be noted that the research has been conducted primarily in the United States, Canada, Australia, and Britain, hence, the results are geographically limited and may not be generalizable beyond those areas.…”

“…Age, education, gender, heredity, socioeconomic status, ethnicity, the presence of children, activity history, dietary habits, and processes of change impact activity in people without disabilities [Trost et al, 2002], but most of these have not been explored in people with MR. Age appears to be negatively associated with activity in adults with MR [Robertson et al, 2000;Emerson, 2005]. Interestingly, the gender disparities in physical activity frequently observed in the general population are not apparent in those with MR [Robertson et al, 2000;Draheim et al, 2002a;Frey, 2004] and this may be because both men and women are largely sedentary.…”

“…Robertson et al [2000] found that those residing in less restrictive settings were more active than counterparts who lived under greater supervision. Conversely, Rimmer et al [1995] reported that individuals with MR residing in less structured settings exercised less than those in more supervised placements.…”

Motor activation in people with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities in daily practice

“…Moreover, training in motor skills enables a person to experience, explore, and understand the world around them (Reimer & Siemonsma-Boom, 2013;Schellingerhout, Smitsman, & Cox, 2005) as well as increasing selfcontrol and autonomy. However, several studies have demonstrated that people with intellectual disability have significantly fewer opportunities to experience movement and/or have lower rates of physical activity than those without disability (Draheim, Williams, & McCubbin, 2002;Emerson, 2005;Hilgenkamp, Reis, van Wijck, & Evenhuis, 2012;Lahtinen, Rintala, & Malin, 2007;Messent, Cooke, & Long, 1998;Robertson et al, 2000;Temple, Frey, & Stanish, 2006). These studies indicate that the rate of physical activity varies with the level of impairment: in general, when the intellectual disability is more severe the level of physical inactivity increases (Emerson, 2005;Peterson, Janz, & Lowe, 2008;Robertson et al, 2000).…”