The feasibility of vigorous resistance exercise training in adults with intellectual disabilities with cardiovascular disease risk factors.
Stijn Weterings, Alyt Oppewal, Thessa I M Hilgenkamp
PMID 31851774WHAT IT FOUND
11 of 19 adults with intellectual disabilities and cardiovascular risk factors who finished a 24-week resistance programme reached vigorous training intensity.
Among finishers, attendance was 73%, 5 of 24 dropped out, and no programme-related adverse events were reported except muscle soreness.
Key findings
01Of the 19 participants who finished, 11 reached vigorous intensity, defined as at least 75% of one repetition maximum.
02Five of 24 participants dropped out; three had motivational problems and two had injuries unrelated to the programme.
03No adverse events related to the programme were reported except muscle soreness, and 18 participants liked the programme.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
Only 24 people started and 19 finished, and the group varied in age, cardiovascular risk factors and level of intellectual disability, so the findings may not apply to all adults with intellectual disabilities. The participants were those willing to try the programme, so the results may not show what would happen for people who are less willing to exercise. The experience questions were made for this study and relied on participant self-report, so answers may have been more favourable than a standard measure would capture. The study did not test whether the programme increased muscle strength, improved daily activities, or changed cardiovascular risk factors; it only assessed feasibility. The programme moved slowly through intensity phases and many sessions were cancelled, leaving limited time at vigorous intensity.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read the good feasibility result as proof that vigorous resistance training prevents cardiovascular disease or improves daily function in adults with intellectual disabilities. This study's main question was whether people could reach vigorous intensity; it did not test health outcomes, and only 19 of 24 participants finished.