The responsiveness of muscle strength tests in adults with intellectual disabilities.
The 10RM seated-squat is the only test that mirrors strength gains from training in adults with ID.
01Research in Context
What this study did
The team tracked five strength tests in adults with intellectual disability. They wanted to know which test best shows real strength gains after training.
Each adult took grip, chair-stand, and seated-squat tests before and after a lifting program. The researchers then checked which test scores moved in step with actual strength progress.
What they found
Only the 10RM seated-squat test lined up with training gains. Grip dynamometry and chair-stand counts stayed flat even when people got stronger.
The seated-squat score rose when participants lifted more weight. This makes it the clear choice for measuring strength change in adults with ID.
How this fits with other research
Diemer et al. (2023) later used the same 10RM squat in a 14-week high-effort program. Their adults in group homes gained strength, proving the test works in real services.
Wouters et al. (2017) looked at kids and said grip dynamometry is reliable. The new adult data do not contradict them; kids may grip fine, but grip misses adult training gains.
Capio et al. (2013) showed most fitness tests are simply doable in older adults. Moya et al. (2022) go further, telling us which test actually responds to training, not just which ones people can complete.
Why it matters
Pick the 10RM seated-squat whenever you need to prove your resistance program works. Skip grip and chair-stand tests for progress tracking; they will hide your client's gains. One solid measure keeps funding, parents, and medical teams on board.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
BACKGROUND: Muscle strength is both a strong predictor for future negative health outcomes and a prerequisite for physical fitness and daily functioning of adults with ID. Therefore, it is important to be able to monitor the muscle strength of adults with ID over time. The aim of this study is to assess the responsiveness of five field tests that measure muscle strength and endurance (grip strength, hand-held dynamometry of leg extension and arm flexion, 10RM-test of the seated squat and the biceps curl, 30-s chair stand and the 5-times Chair stand) in adults with ID after a 24-week resistance-exercise training (RT) programme. METHOD: The responsiveness of the five muscle strength and endurance tests was assessed by correlating the change scores of the five tests with the slope of the training progression of specific exercises within the RT-programme, namely, the step up, seated squat, biceps curl and triceps curl. RESULTS: The 10RM-test of the seated squat was significantly correlated with the step up (R = 0.53, P = 0.02) and the seated squat (R = 0.70 P = 0.00). None of change scores on the other tests was significantly correlated with the training progression of the exercises. CONCLUSION: The 10RM test of the seated squat could potentially be used to evaluate the effects of an RT-programme in adults with ID. Responsiveness of the grip strength, hand held dynamometry, 10RM-test of the biceps curl, 30-s chair stand and the 5-times chair stand could not yet be confirmed.
Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDR, 2022 · doi:10.1111/jir.12935