Article

Investigating the effect of combined aerobic and strength training on metabolic and physical
fitness in adults with intellectual disabilities compared to endurance training and no training.
Design : A controlled trial with patients receiving either combined (COM), endurance (END) or no
training (C).
Two centres for intellectual disabilities (Sterrenhuis, Brasschaat and Emiliani, Lokeren, Belgium).
Subjects : Forty-five adults with intellectual disabilities (mean age: 42 (9,2), mean body mass index (BMI):
24 (3,9), mean IQ: 56 (5,6)).
Intervention: Combined exercise training (n?15) and endurance training (n?15) twice a week for
70 minutes per session for 20 weeks and no training (n?15). Groups were matched for age, sex and
intellectual disability.
Main measures: Lipid profile, physical fitness (primary); blood pressure and body composition.
Results: Compared to no training, combined exercise training has significant positive effects on total
cholesterol levels, aerobic capacity, muscle strength and resting systolic blood pressure, while endurance
exercise training has significant effects on aerobic capacity and resting systolic blood pressure. Compared
to endurance training, combined exercise training resulted in a significant better evolution of total cholesterol (mean differences: ÿ18 versus ÿ3 mg/dl), 1RM upper (+6 versus +1 kg) and lower limb (+25 versus +8 kg) and abdominal muscles (+15 versus +1 kg), hand grip strength (+9 versus +2 kg), muscle
fatigue resistance (+11 versus +5 sec), sit-to-stand (+5 versus +2/30 sec) and systolic blood pressure
(ÿ15 versus ÿ10 mmHg)

Langue : ANGLAIS