title: A community-based aquatic exercise program to improve endurance and mobility in adults with mild to moderate intellectual disability.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of a community-based aquatic exercise program on physical performance among adults with mild to moderate intellectual disability (ID). Twenty-two community-dwelling adults with mild to moderate ID volunteered to participate in this study. Participants completed an 8-week aquatic exercise program (2 days/wk, 1 hr/session). Measures of physical performance, which were assessed prior to and following the completion of the aquatic exercise program, included the timed-up-and-go test, 6-min walk test, 30-sec chair stand test, 10-m timed walk test, hand grip strength, and the static plank test. When comparing participants' measures of physical performance prior to and following the 8-week aquatic exercise program, improvements were seen in all measures, but the change in scores for the 6-min walk test, 30-sec chair stand test, and the static plank test achieved statistical significance (P<0.05). An 8-week group aquatic exercise program for adults with ID may promote improvements in endurance and balance/mobility.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, University of Scranton, Scranton, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Renée M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Hakim
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, Daemen College, Amherst, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Michael D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Ross
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, St. Joseph's Center, Scranton, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Wendy
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Runco
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, St. Joseph's Center, Scranton, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Michael T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Kane
keywords: Aquatic; Intellectual disability; Therapy