title: Effectiveness of a cross-circuit exercise training program in improving the fitness of overweight or obese adolescents with intellectual disability enrolled in special education schools.
abstract: This study assessed the effects of a cross-circuit training intervention program on the body composition, cardiorespiratory fitness, balance, and muscular strength endurance of overweight or obese students with intellectual disability. A total of 43 students with intellectual disability (aged 13-19 years) were enrolled in this program; 28 overweight/obese students were assigned to either an obesity-control group (n=14) or obesity-exercise group (n=14), and those with normal weight were assigned to a normal weight group (n=15). The experiment was divided into three periods: pretest (involving the three groups), exercise intervention (involving only the obesity-exercise group), and post-test (involving the obesity-exercise and obesity-control groups). The test involved measuring the body composition, 1-min sit-ups, dynamic and static balance, vertical jumps, and modified Bruce treadmill protocols for measuring cardiorespiratory fitness. The exercise program involving the cross-circuit training concept was conducted nonstop with different types of exercise activities. The training program lasted 12 weeks, and it was executed 5days a week, with each daily session lasting 50min. The results revealed that the obesity-exercise group demonstrated reduced weight, BMI, and fat mass after the intervention program. Moreover, the exercise tolerance test (including total exercise time and maximal heart rate), dynamic balance, sit-up, and vertical jump performance of the participants improved significantly. In conclusion, the cross-circuit training program effectively improved cardiorespiratory fitness, dynamic balance, muscular strength and endurance, and weight control in overweight or obese students with intellectual disability enrolled in a special education school.
authors.affiliation: Department of Sports Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Electronic address: wenlanwu@kmu.edu.tw.
authors.forename: Wen-Lan
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Department of Sports Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; National Miaoli Special School, Miaoli, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yu-Fen
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Sports Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: I-Hua
authors.initials: IH
authors.lastname: Chu
authors.affiliation: Center for General Education, National Sun Yat-Sen University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Hsiu-Tao
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.affiliation: Center for General Education, National Sun Yat-Sen University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Feng-Hua
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.affiliation: Department of Sports Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Jing-Min
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Liang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001823:Body Composition; D015992:Body Mass Index; D000072599:Cardiorespiratory Fitness; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004519:Education, Special; D005080:Exercise Test; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D017079:Exercise Tolerance; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000150:complications / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008297:Male; D053580:Muscle Strength; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D050177:Overweight / Q000150:complications / Q000534:rehabilitation; D010807:Physical Endurance; D010809:Physical Fitness; D004856:Postural Balance; D012574:Schools; D015431:Weight Loss; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Exercise training; Intellectual disability; Physical fitness; Weight control