Aerobic exercise improves lung function in children with intellectual disability: a randomised trial.
OBJECTIVE
In children with intellectual disability, is lung function lower than in healthy peers and does it improve with exercise?


METHODS
Randomised trial with intention-to-treat analysis and assessor blinding.


METHODS
Forty-four 12-year old children with Down syndrome or other intellectual disability with an average IQ of 42 (SD 8).


METHODS
The experimental group performed aerobic exercise for 30 minutes, five days per week, for eight weeks. The exercise was supervised walking, running, and cycling, with a target of moderate intensity. The control group continued usual activities and performed no specific exercise.


METHODS
Lung function as FEV1 and FVC in litres was measured with spirometry at baseline and after the intervention at eight weeks. Prior to the baseline measures, all participants underwent familiarisation of spirometry for one week.


RESULTS
At baseline, FEV1 of the children with intellectual disability was a mean of 87% (95% CI 83 to 91) and FVC was 94% (95% CI 91 to 97) of predicted normal values. After intervention, FEV(1) had increased by 160 ml (95% CI 30 to 290) and FVC by 330 ml (95% CI 200 to 460) more in the experimental group than the control group.


CONCLUSIONS
An 8-week program of aerobic exercise improves lung function in children with intellectual disability significantly.


BACKGROUND
ACTRN12609000365268.
Khalili
Mohammad A
MA
Faculty of Rehabilitation, Semnan University (Medical Sciences), Semnan, Iran. moh35ir@yahoo.co.UK
Elkins
Mark R
MR
D002648:Child; D004314:Down Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D015444:Exercise; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008168:Lung / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D016896:Treatment Outcome