title: Cardiovascular fitness as related to leg strength in adults with mental retardation.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to compare cardiovascular fitness to leg strength of young adults (mean age = 25.2 yr) with mental retardation (MR) with and without Down syndrome (DS) and to determine whether a relationship exists. Thirteen adults (9 males, 4 females) with DS and 24 adults (16 males, 8 females) with MR but without DS participated in this study. Cardiovascular capacity (VO2peak) for each subject was determined by a treadmill test (GXT) and isokinetic knee flexion and extension strength (peak torque and average power) were determined by isokinetic dynamometry. Results generally demonstrated significant positive relationships (P < 0.05) between VO2peak and isokinetic leg strength (r = 0.61), with the relationship being substantial mainly for subjects with Down syndrome (r = 0.84). The results of this study suggest that leg strength may be an important contributor to VO2peak for persons with mental retardation.
authors.affiliation: College of Health Professions, Wichita State University, KS 67260-0043, USA.
authors.forename: K H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Pitetti
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Boneh
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004314:Down Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D006321:Heart / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D007866:Leg; D008168:Lung / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology*; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology*; D012737:Sex Factors