Balance Skills and Children with Intellectual Disabilities – Evidence Based Interventions

Recent research was conducted to determine the effects of exercise programs in improving the balance skills of children with intellectual disabilities. Deficits in balance abilities can results in an increased risk for falls. A meta-analysis from 10 studies was completed to investigate the most effective programs on balance ability in children with intellectual disabilities.

Results of the Study on Effective Interventions for Balance Skills

Following data analysis on the balance skills of children with intellectual disabilities, the researchers determined that:

  • Effective interventions were –
    • Fitness exercise
    • combined strength and proprioceptive training
    • dual-task functional exercises
    • trampoline exercise
    • hippotherapy
    • core strength training.
  • The exercises should be less than or equal to 10 weeks.
  • Frequency of exercises performed three times per week.
  • Duration of exercises should be sustained for 45–60 min to reach the largest effect.
  • When comparing balance ability: 5–13-year-old children balance skills could be improved by a larger margin through physical exercise than 14–18-year-old children.

The researchers concluded that six intervention programs proved to be effective on balance and were beneficial for physical education in schools with integrated sports programs.

Reference: Ma, Y., Wang, L., Li, M., & Wang, T. (2020). Meta-analysis of the effects of exercise programs in improving the balance ability of children with intellectual disabilities. Journal of Intellectual & Developmental Disability45(2), 144-154.

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