Could sport specialization influence fitness and health of adults with mental retardation?
Specialized sports teams push adults with ID past the gains of general play.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Crane et al. (2010) followed adults with intellectual disability for nine months.
One group trained only in track and field or basketball. A second group joined general recreation.
Coaches measured fitness before and after the sport seasons.
What they found
The specialized-sport group gained more strength, speed, and heart fitness than the general-recreation group.
Training like a real athlete, not just playing, made the difference.
How this fits with other research
Weiss et al. (2001) also saw big gains when adults with ID moved outdoors. Their study shows any active setting can beat quiet rooms.
Fahmie et al. (2013) found blind Torball players felt happier and more social. Together these papers say sport gives both body and mind benefits.
Greenlee et al. (2024) warn that most adults with ID sit too much. Laura’s results prove a focused team can reverse that trend.
Why it matters
You can swap open-gym time for a short track or basketball block. Pick one skill to drill each week. Guard against inactivity by writing sport goals into the ISP where Hanzen et al. (2018) show leisure is often left out. A sharper, fitter client needs fewer supports down the line.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
Although several studies showed the positive effects of exercise and physical activity on health and well-being for individuals with ID, there is a lack of information about the influence of sport specialization on fitness and health components. Therefore, the aims of this study were to assess: (a) physical fitness of athletes with intellectual disability (ID) compared with individuals included in recreational and leisure activity programs (non-athletic people); (b) contribution of sport specialization on athletes' fitness; and c) correlation of each fitness variable with subjects' ID levels. Twenty-two track and field, 19 basketball, and 23 non-athletic adults were recruited. Before and after a 9-month period, all participants performed fitness tests assessing body composition, flexibility (SR), arm muscular strength (HG), lower and upper-body muscular strength and endurance (SUP and PUP), explosive leg power (SLJ), cardiovascular endurance (ST), balance ability (FT), motor coordination (TUGT). The results showed that participants' weight, BMI and FT were significantly affected by time; SLJ by activity; ST, HG, PUP, SUP, and TUGT by both time and activity. Only track and field athletes increased significantly ST. All athletes improved significantly HG, PUP and SUP, instead non-athletic people decreased significantly SUP (p<0.01). TUGT improved significantly in track and field athletes (p<0.05), and decreased significantly in non-athletic people. ID level was positively correlated to TUGT. Findings of this study showed that physical activity improved fitness in adult athletes with ID, decreasing health risks. Athletes with lower ID obtained higher performance scores in motor coordination test.
Research in developmental disabilities, 2010 · doi:10.1016/j.ridd.2010.04.002