Alma Mater Europaea - European Centre Maribor, Health programs, Maribor, Slovenia.
Štore Steel Limited, Research and Development, Štore, Slovenia.
J Intellect Disabil Res. 2020 May;64(5):381-394. doi: 10.1111/jir.12727. Epub 2020 Mar 20.
One challenge a modern society faces is this: providing those vulnerable and ageing groups of adults who have intellectual disabilities with appropriate support for improving static and dynamic balance. Balance is a crucial component of physical fitness and, consequently, of fall reduction and prevention. The aim of the present randomised controlled trial was to evaluate the efficacy, after 16 weeks, that three different Special Olympics physical activity programmes had on balance and on fall reduction in adults with intellectual disabilities.
A convenience sample of 150 persons with mild and moderate intellectual disabilities was recruited from the accessible Special Olympics Slovenia population of physically inactive adults with intellectual disabilities. The sample was randomised to the experimental group 1 (multicomponent balance-specific exercise programme group with additional workshops on such social gerontology topics as active and healthy ageing; N = 50), the experimental group 2 (multicomponent wellness programme group; N = 50) and a control group (regular Special Olympics athletic training; N = 50).
Significant differences were found between groups in the balance scores throughout the study period and in the ability to decrease fall frequency.
Balance assessment is a high predictor of frequency of falls, and among adults with intellectual disabilities, it significantly correlates with exercise. The results indicate that a multicomponent balance-specific exercise programme with a significant sociogerontological component on active ageing could be a useful intervention for intellectually disabled adults who have poor balance and who experience frequent falls.
现代社会面临的挑战之一是为那些有智力障碍的脆弱和老龄化成年人提供适当的支持，以提高静态和动态平衡能力。平衡是身体健康的关键组成部分，因此也是减少和预防跌倒的关键。本随机对照试验的目的是评估三种不同的特殊奥林匹克体育活动方案在 16 周后对平衡和智力障碍成年人跌倒减少的效果。
从便于接触的斯洛文尼亚特殊奥林匹克运动中身体不活跃的智力障碍成年人中招募了 150 名轻度和中度智力障碍者作为便利样本。该样本被随机分配到实验组 1（多成分平衡专项运动方案组，外加关于积极健康老龄化等社会老年学主题的研讨会；N=50）、实验组 2（多成分健康方案组；N=50）和对照组（常规特殊奥林匹克运动训练；N=50）。
在整个研究期间，组间在平衡评分和减少跌倒频率的能力方面存在显著差异。
平衡评估是跌倒频率的一个高度预测因素，在智力障碍成年人中，它与运动显著相关。结果表明，具有积极老龄化重要社会老年学内容的多成分平衡专项运动方案可能是改善平衡不良和频繁跌倒的智力障碍成年人的一种有用干预措施。
