Effects of an abdominal muscle exercise program in people with intellectual disabilities residing in a residential care facility.
Sungmin Son, Byoungjin Jeon
PMID 28744046WHAT IT FOUND
Ten people with intellectual disabilities did abdominal exercises twice weekly for 12 weeks.
Average weight fell from 60.8 kg to 59.0 kg, sit-ups rose from 29.6 to 34.8, and sit-and-reach rose from 4.3 cm to 5.6 cm. No control group limits certainty.
Key findings
01Average weight decreased from 60.8 kg to 59.0 kg, and the change was reported as statistically significant.
02Average sit-up count increased from 29.6 times to 34.8 times, and the change was reported as statistically significant.
03Average sit-and-reach distance increased from 4.3 cm to 5.6 cm, and the change was reported as statistically significant.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
Only 10 participants were studied, all from one residential care facility, so results may not apply to other people or settings. The paper does not report a control group, randomisation or blinding, so changes over time cannot be confidently attributed to the exercise program. Meals and snacks were not controlled, and participants kept their usual food intake, which could affect weight. The program combined dynamic stretching, crunch, sit-up, leg raise and trainer help, so the contribution of any single component cannot be separated. The participants were selected because they could walk and had no sensory or neurological problems, so findings may not apply to people with more severe mobility or health needs. The study lasted 12 weeks and did not follow participants after the program.
Declared interests
No funding or conflicts of interest statement is included.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that abdominal exercise caused weight loss or fitness gains. The study had only 10 participants, did not report a control group, and did not control meals or snacks. It also combined dynamic stretching, crunch, sit-up, leg raise and trainer help, so the contribution of any single component cannot be separated.