Adolescents with intellectual disability have reduced postural balance and muscle performance in trunk and lower limbs compared to peers without intellectual disability.
Teens with ID have weak balance and trunk strength—start strength and balance drills now, not later.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Blomqvist et al. (2013) compared teens with intellectual disability to same-age peers without ID.
They tested balance, trunk strength, and leg power in a lab setting.
The study used standard tools like force plates and timed stance tests.
What they found
The ID group scored much lower on every balance and strength task.
Height, weight, eyesight, and muscle strength did not explain the gap.
The deficit looks like a real motor-control problem, not just weak muscles.
How this fits with other research
Lin et al. (2010) show that most teens with ID barely exercise. Sven’s balance data help explain why: poor postural control makes activity hard and scary.
Salb et al. (2015) later proved that simple fall-risk tests are reliable in adults with ID. Their work extends Sven’s teen findings and gives you ready-made tools to screen balance in clinic tomorrow.
Freeman et al. (2015) found that active adults with ID enjoy more community outings. The chain is clear: catch balance problems early, build strength, keep clients moving, and quality of life rises.
Why it matters
You now know balance and trunk strength are already poor in early adolescence. Start fall-prevention work before graduation. Add short sit-to-stand sets, single-leg balance games, and core bracing to daily programs. Track progress with the Timed Up-and-Go or 30-second chair stand. Early training can widen activity choices and cut later fracture risk.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
For adolescent people with ID, falls are more common compared to peers without ID. However, postural balance among this group is not thoroughly investigated. The aim of this study was to compare balance and muscle performance among adolescents aged between 16 and 20 years with a mild to moderate intellectual disability (ID) to age-matched adolescents without ID. A secondary purpose was to investigate the influence of vision, strength, height and Body Mass Index (BMI) on balance. A group of 100 adolescents with ID and a control group of 155 adolescents without ID were investigated with five balance tests and three strength tests: timed up and go test, one leg stance, dynamic one leg stance, modified functional reach test, force platform test, counter movement jump, sit-ups, and Biering-Sørensen trunk extensor endurance test. The results showed that adolescents with an ID in general had significantly lower scores in the balance and muscle performance tests. The group with ID did not have a more visually dominated postural control compared to the group without ID. Height, BMI or muscle performance had no strong correlations with balance performance. It appears as if measures to improve balance and strength are required already at a young age for people with an ID.
Research in developmental disabilities, 2013 · doi:10.1016/j.ridd.2012.07.008