Physical fitness in older people with ID-Concept and measuring instruments: a review.
Grab the eight-test battery to measure strength, balance, and endurance in older adults with ID without fancy gear.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Busch et al. (2010) hunted for tests that can track fitness in older adults with intellectual disability. They screened every paper they could find. They ended up with eight tools that cover seven fitness areas like strength, balance, and flexibility.
What they found
The team picked a ready-to-use battery: Box & Block for hand dexterity, Berg Balance Scale, grip dynamometer, six-minute walk, and four more. Each test is cheap, quick, and needs little training.
How this fits with other research
Enkelaar et al. (2012) say balance and gait problems are common in ID and can be trained. Busch et al. (2010) give you the exact scales to measure those deficits before and after training.
Chezan et al. (2019) show motor drills improve balance in kids with ID, but they warn we still lack good yardsticks for teens. The 2010 battery fills that gap with adult-friendly versions of the same tests.
Lotan et al. (2009) boosted fitness with VR games in adults with IDD. They used lab gear. You could swap in the 2010 battery to track gains without pricey machines.
Why it matters
You now have an evidence-based menu to screen older clients in day-hab or group homes. Pick two or three tests, set a baseline, run a fun exercise program, then re-test. Data sheets are free online. No lab coat required.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
A certain level of physical fitness is a prerequisite for independent functioning and self-care, but the level of physical fitness declines with ageing. This applies to older adult with intellectual disabilities too, but very little is known about their actual level of physical fitness. This lack of knowledge is partly caused by a lack of suitable instruments to measure physical fitness in this group, but the search for and choice of instruments depends on the operationalisation of the concept physical fitness for specific this target population. In this article the advantages of two known definitions of physical fitness are combined, leading to a combination of seven components to describe physical fitness in older adults with intellectual disabilities: coordination, reaction time, balance, muscular strength, muscular endurance, flexibility and cardio-respiratory endurance. A literature search for all instruments to measure any of these components resulted in a large number of available instruments. These instruments were evaluated according criteria of functionality, reliability and feasibility in this target population. The aim of this article was to propose a selection of instruments which complied with these criteria and creates possibilities for widespread use and sharing and/or pooling of data. The proposed selection of tests to measure physical fitness in older adults with intellectual disabilities is: Box and Block test, Reaction time test with an auditive and visual signal, Berg balance scale, Walking speed comfortable and fast, Grip strength with a hand dynamometer, 30s chair stand, modified back saver sit and reach and the 10 m incremental shuttle walking test.
Research in developmental disabilities, 2010 · doi:10.1016/j.ridd.2010.04.012