Postural balance problems in people with intellectual disabilities: Do not forget the sensory input systems

Abstract

Background This pilot study aimed to explore the impact of visual, auditory and vestibular dysfunctions on the postural balance performance in adults with intellectual disabilities. Additionally, a comparison was made between the subjects with intellectual disabilities and a control group concerning static and dynamic balance tasks. Method Thirty adults with intellectual disabilities and 25 control subjects received a postural balance assessment. Additionally, the experimental group was subjected to a visual, auditory and vestibular screening. Results The experimental group performed significantly worse and/or showed more sway compared to the control group for all balance tasks (p < .01) except the timed up and go test. Within the experimental group, a significant positive correlation (rs(24) = 0.513, p = .007) was observed between the number of failed sensory screening items and the number of failed balance tasks. Conclusions These findings suggest significant involvement of peripheral sensorial deficits in the balance problems that people with intellectual disabilities often experience.

Effect of a resistance training programme implemented with high levels of effort on physical fitness in people with intellectual disabilities living in group homes: a randomised controlled trial

“…In line with our results, Granacher & Gollhofer (2011) did not find a significant correlation between static and dynamic strength with postural balance in a group of adolescents with IDs, while Blomqvist et al (2013) only reported several minor correlations between body mass index and strength with balance performance also in adolescents with IDs. These results highlight the necessity to consider certain peripheral sensory deficits often experienced by adults with IDs (Blomqvist et al 2013;Leyssens et al 2022).…”

Effect of the environmental factor of coexistence on the physical condition of people with mild and moderate intellectual disabilities

“…We cannot establish the possible cause of the better performance of the IH group in postural balance. Possible multisensory deficits in conditioning balance (Leyssens et al, 2022) could be compensated. This compensation is due to the heterogeneity of the sample in terms of the aetiology of intellectual disability.…”

“…In addition, the high‐precision of the automatic system used to collect force variables should also be considered, whereas three attempts were performed for the postural balance test and the median value was selected to increase the accuracy of the measurement. Considering the above mentioned methodological factors, and the fact that many previous studies comparing strength and/or balance variables between groups of people with different intellectual disabilities recruited similar sample sizes ( n from 20 to 55) (Delgado‐Lobete et al, 2021; Leyssens et al, 2022; Oppewal & Hilgenkamp, 2018), we believe that the findings of this study obtained through the application of a rigorous testing methodology significantly contribute to expand our knowledge regarding the differences in physical fitness between individuals with intellectual disabilities living in residential homes or independently. However, due to the small sample size, only the differences categorised as moderate or large (ES ≥ 0.50) reached statistical significance in the present study.…”

“…Force and balance have been proposed as the two most sensitive indicators of the physical condition in people with intellectual disabilities (Cabeza‐Ruiz et al, 2021; Cuesta‐Vargas et al, 2022; Delgado‐Lobete et al, 2021; Leyssens et al, 2022; Oppewal & Hilgenkamp, 2018). This is further supported by the fact that most intervention programs aimed at improving the physical fitness of people with intellectual disabilities considered both strength and balance training.…”

Effect of Baduanjin on physical functioning and balance in adults with mild‐to‐moderate intellectual disabilities: A comparative study

“…The effects of exercise interventions on balance in individuals with intellectual disabilities remain inconclusive (Suárez-Iglesias et al, 2021). The underlying mechanisms contributing to balance impairment in this population are multifactorial and involve premature aging, obesity, physical inactivity, neurological disturbances, altered executive function, and peripheral sensory deficits (Leyssens et al, 2022). Thus, it is plausible that a multidisciplinary approach could be a more accurate strategy for achieving balance improvements in adults with intellectual disabilities (Kovačič et al, 2020).…”