Physical fitness of adults with an intellectual disability: a 13-year follow-up study.
The purpose of this study was to describe the change in physical fitness of middle-aged adults with an intellectual disability over a period of 13 years. Participants were 32 adults who worked in a supported work environment in Montreal and had been participants in a physical fitness study in 1983. Using the Canadian Standardized Test of Fitness, the participants were evaluated for cardiovascular endurance, muscular strength, muscular endurance, flexibility, and body composition. A home visit prior to the testing session refamiliarized the participants with the test procedures. Two forms of analysis were used to describe the change in fitness over 13 years. First, a 2 x 2 (Group x Time) analysis of variance for each dependent variable assessed change over time. Second, effect sizes were calculated to measure the magnitude of change in fitness over the 13-year period in comparison to those without an intellectual disability. As expected, the physical fitness levels of the participants were low when compared to those without a disability and declined over the 13 years. In addition, the magnitude of change over the 13 years, as compared to those without a disability, was greater for male and female participants for body mass index and percentage of body fat and for female participants for cardiovascular endurance and sit-ups. It appears that adults with an intellectual disability may be particularly at risk for declining health associated with aging and low physical fitness.
Department of Physical Education, McGill University.
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Graham
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Reid
D000273:Adipose Tissue; D000328:Adult; D001823:Body Composition; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010807:Physical Endurance; D010809:Physical Fitness; D012737:Sex Factors; D013997:Time Factors