Effect of Therapeutic Exercise on the Gender Differences in Typical Physical Fitness Tests of Young Individuals with Intellectual Impairment

Abstract

The study aimed to examine the effect of therapeutic exercise intervention (TEI) on the gender differences in typical physical fitness tests of young individuals with intellectual impairment (II). Thirty-nine young individuals with II (22 boys, 17 girls; 18.9 ± 3.2 yrs) were examined before and after the implementation of a 3-month TEI. The examined fitness tests were the sit and reach test (SRT), the standing long jump (SLJ), and the Romberg balance test with open (RBTO) and closed (RBTC) eyes. Results revealed a significant (p.05) for the other tests. In conclusion, longer TEI is required to provoke fitness adaptations in young persons with II.

Keywords

• disability
• daily activities
• exercise
• down syndrome
• autism