A community-based aquatic exercise program to improve endurance and mobility in adults with mild to moderate intellectual disability

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of a communi-ty-based aquatic exercise program on physical performance among adults with mild to moderate intellectual disability (ID). Twenty-two community-dwelling adults with mild to moderate ID volunteered to participate in this study. Participants completed an 8-week aquatic ex-ercise program (2 days/wk, 1 hr/session). Measures of physical perfor-mance, which were assessed prior to and following the completion of the aquatic exercise program, included the timed-up-and-go test, 6-min walk test, 30-sec chair stand test, 10-m timed walk test, hand grip strength, and the static plank test. When comparing participants' mea-sures of physical performance prior to and following the 8-week aquat-ic exercise program, improvements were seen in all measures, but the change in scores for the 6-min walk test, 30-sec chair stand test, and the static plank test achieved statistical significance (P < 0.05). An 8-week group aquatic exercise program for adults with ID may promote improvements in endurance and balance/mobility.