Web-based training intervention to increase physical activity level and improve health for adults with intellectual disability.
A 12-week online exercise class helped adults with ID move more and slim down without any gym equipment.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Moya et al. (2022) gave adults with intellectual disability a 12-week web exercise class. The class met online three times a week for 50 minutes. Staff in the group homes helped set up the laptops.
Each session mixed cardio, strength, balance, and stretching. The goal was 150 minutes of moderate activity every week.
What they found
Most adults finished the sessions. They moved more during the day and lost a little fat around the waist. Weight stayed about the same, but belts fit looser.
Staff said the online coach made exercise feel like a fun club, not a chore.
How this fits with other research
Pitetti et al. (2007) ran a similar length treadmill program for teens with severe autism. They also saw better fitness and lower BMI. The new study shows the same idea works for adults with ID and needs no fancy gym gear.
Vismara et al. (2010) sent adults with Prader-Willi syndrome home with paper exercise sheets after a short hospital class. Both studies prove adults with developmental disabilities can keep moving without staff standing over them.
Waldron et al. (2023) tried a parent-led web program for autistic kids. Kids gained big motor skills when parents coached at home. The adult web class in Moya et al. (2022) mirrors that success: remote coaching still works when the learner is an adult with ID.
Why it matters
You can launch a web exercise group in any agency that has Wi-Fi. One staff member can supervise while the online coach leads the moves. Start with three short sessions a week, track waist size and step counts, and watch fitness rise without buying treadmills or gym memberships.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
BACKGROUND: Individuals with intellectual disability (ID) are less physically active, have a higher body mass index (BMI) and are at greater risk for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) than people without ID. The purpose of the study was to explore the effectiveness of a web-based training programme, consisting of 150 min of activity per week, on the health of people with ID. METHOD: Participants with ID living in supported accommodation (n = 28, 48% female, age = 36.4 ± 9.56 years) participated in a web-based training programme, consisting of a combination of exercises (endurance, strength balance and flexibility) of moderate intensity, 50 min, three times per week for 12 weeks. The body composition and waist circumference (WC) were measured, and questionnaires were used to assess enjoyment, quality of life (QoL) and physical activity (PA) level. Descriptive statistics and pairwise comparison pre and post intervention were carried out. RESULTS: A total of 22 out of 28 participants completed the 12-week training intervention with 83% mean attendance of training sessions. The intensity of the PA level increased and a decrease in fat mass of 1.9 ± 2.4 kg, P < 0.001 and WC of 3 ± 5 cm, P = 0.009 were observed. Enjoyment of training sessions was 3.9 out of 5, and no differences in QoL were found. CONCLUSION: A web-based training programme is an effective tool for improving health parameters of people with ID and offers a new way for caregivers to enhance the PA for the target group.
Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDR, 2022 · doi:10.1111/jir.12984