Feasibility of a dance and exercise with music programme on adults with intellectual disability.
Dance-and-music exercise is a safe, low-drop-out way to start fitness work with adults who have ID, but bigger gains need longer programs.
01Research in Context
What this study did
The team ran a 10-week dance and exercise class set to music. Adults with intellectual disability joined twice-a-week sessions led by a dance teacher.
No control group was used. Staff tracked who showed up, checked heart rate, and weighed people before and after.
What they found
Nine out of ten adults finished the program. Their BMI dropped, they walked farther in six minutes, and leg strength went up.
No injuries happened. Staff said the music kept people smiling and coming back.
How this fits with other research
Sosnowski et al. (2022) ran a 24-week basketball study with adults who have Down syndrome. They saw bigger fitness gains and used a control group. Their longer, harder plan now sets the bar higher, so the 10-week dance plan looks gentle by comparison.
Takahashi et al. (2023) tested 10-week dance movement therapy on kids and teens with Down syndrome. Like Wormald et al. (2019), they kept the fun music and group style, but they added a control group and only balance improved. The mixed results remind us that dance helps some skills, not all.
Maine et al. (2020) reviewed 16 health-promotion programs for young adults with IDD. They found most studies, including this dance trial, are short and lack control groups. The review says better designs are needed before we call any exercise plan "evidence-based."
Why it matters
You now know a low-cost, music-filled dance class can run safely with adults who have ID and still trim BMI and boost endurance. Use it as a first step, not the final answer. Pair the fun with longer or tougher plans like basketball or swimming once clients build the habit.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
BACKGROUND: Research regarding the feasibility and effects of dancing and exercise with musical support programmes on the physical fitness of adults with intellectual disability (ID) is scarce. The purpose of this study was to provide scientific evidence regarding the feasibility of a training programme consisting of dancing and exercise with music designed for adults with ID, as well as to assess its impact on their body composition and cardiovascular and muscular fitness. METHODS: A total of 30 adults (mean age 36.37 ± 11.24 years) with mild (n = 13), moderate (n = 16) or severe (n = 1) ID took part in a 10-week dancing and exercise with music programme. Recruitment and completion rate, adherence to the programme, participation and adverse effects were registered as measures of feasibility. The body mass index, cardiovascular endurance (6-min walk test) and muscular strength (standing long jump test) of the participants were assessed in order to determine the effects of the programme on their fitness level. RESULTS: A 92.5% recruitment rate and a 90% completion rate were achieved. Adherence to the programme stood at 76.6%, and no adverse effects were registered. The comparison between the values obtained in the initial and final evaluations indicated the existence of positive changes in all the fitness dimensions measured. CONCLUSION: A training programme combining dancing and exercise with music proved to be feasible when performed by adults with ID. These kind of programmes can have a positive effect on the fitness level of this specific group.
Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDR, 2019 · doi:10.1111/jir.12585