Association between physical fitness, body mass index and intelligence quotient in individuals with intellectual disabilities.

BACKGROUND: Physical exercise seems to improve cognitive abilities at different physiological levels. Numerous studies have examined the relationship between physical fitness (PF), physical activity and cognition among populations without intellectual disabilities (ID), but very few have addressed this question with respect to people with ID. This study aimed to determine the correlation between intelligence quotient (IQ) and factors related to PF in healthy adults with ID. METHODS: A multicentre cross-sectional study was conducted in 91 individuals with ID. All participants were assessed with the K-BIT tests and the following test items from the SAMU DIS-FIT Battery: body mass index, handgrip strength (HGS), leg strength, dynamic balance and physical endurance. RESULTS: Significant differences between men and women were tested by multiple regression. IQ was found to be statistically related to HGS and leg strength, with a medium effect size. Statistical relationships were also found between sex and physical endurance, with a medium effect size, and HGS, with a large effect size. CONCLUSIONS: The study results highlight relationships between the variables of muscular strength and the participants' IQ. Further studies with experimental designs are needed to enhance the understanding of the relationships between PF and cognition in persons with ID.

Feasibility and reliability of the Assessing Levels of Physical Activity health-related fitness test battery in adults with intellectual disabilities.

BACKGROUND: People with intellectual disabilities (IDs) seem to have a lower physical fitness (PF) than their peers without disabilities, which coincides with reduced autonomy, life expectancy and quality of life. To assess PF in these individuals, it is necessary to use appropriate tools that permit the assessment of their physical capacities taking into account their specific characteristics. The aim of this work is to study the feasibility and reliability of the Assessing Levels of Physical Activity (ALPHA)-Fit test battery for adults in a group of men and women with mild to moderate ID. METHODS: Forty-one adults with ID of both sexes, ranging in age from 20 to 60 years old, participated in the study. To identify the feasibility and reliability of the ALPHA-Fit test battery for adults, two complete assessments were done for each one of the tests included in the battery. The assessments were performed for a period of no more than 2 weeks (test-retest). An intraclass correlation coefficient was used to determinate test-retest reliability, and a mixed analysis of variance factorial was used for each of the dependent variables. Bland-Altman plots were also used to assess consistency between the two measurements. Feasibility was calculated as the percentage of people who were able to perform the tests correctly (not feasible <50%, fairly feasible 50%-75% and feasible >75%). In order to determine other psychometric properties, minimal detectable change and standard error of measurement (SEM) were also calculated. RESULTS: Of the 10 tests in the ALPHA-Fit test battery, eight were shown to be feasible. High reliability was obtained (>0.90) for the variables related to body composition. In the hand-grip test, reliability was high in the men's group but low in the women's group. Good reliability results were also found (0.80-0.89) in the dynamic sit-up test for women, but not for men. Fair reliability (0.70-0.79) was found in jump-and-reach and neck-shoulder mobility tests. The variables in the 2-km walk and agility tests indicated poor reliability. All tests showed SEM values related to high variability. However, Bland-Altman plots showed results related to lack of consistency. CONCLUSIONS: The feasibility and reliability calculations, as well as the SEM values, confirm that not all the tests of the ALPHA-Fit Test Battery for Adults are suitable for the assessment of PF in adults with ID, probably because of the complexity of the motor fitness tests. The authors emphasise the necessity of making adaptations to the protocols used or of using other tests more appropriate to the characteristics of people with mild to moderate ID.

Comparison of conventional hamstring/quadriceps ratio between genders in level-matched soccer players / Comparación del ratio de fuerza convencional isquiotibial/cuádriceps entre jugadores de fútbol de niveles similares de ambos sexos / Comparação da relação de força convencional entre isquiotibiais/quadríceps entre jogadores de futebol com níveis semelhantes, de ambos os sexos

Objectives. The main goal of our study is to compare the hamstring/quadriceps (H/Q) ratio at different knee angles between level-matched male and female soccer players and to determine whether differences in the H/Q ratio exist between the dominant and the non-dominant leg. Methods. A cross-sectional study design was used to compare an isometric H/Q ratio and functional isokinetic ratio (between hamstring in eccentric contraction and quadriceps in concentric contraction) between males (n=14) and females (n=14). These ratios were studied at two different speeds of movement (60°s−1 and 180°s−1) and in five different positions (40°, 50°, 60°, 70° and 80° degrees of knee flexion). Results. Our results showed no differences in the H/Q ratio between genders. The ratio in the dominant leg showed an average of 9% higher values. The ratios were an average of 53.4% lower in positions near flexion than in positions near extension. Conclusions. For both men and women, the results showed lower ratios in the non-dominant leg compared to the dominant leg. At higher velocities, the force ratios were higher, while in more knee-flexed positions, the ratios were lower. Finally, we did not find differences in ratios between men and women (AU)

Objetivos. El objetivo principal del estudio es comparar el ratio de fuerza isquiotibial/cuádriceps (ratio H/Q) en diferentes ángulos de rodilla entre jugadores de fútbol de niveles similares y determinar si existen diferencias en dicho ratio entre la pierna dominante y la no dominante. Métodos. Se utilizó un diseño transversal para comparar el ratio isométrico H/Q y el ratio funcional isocinético (ratio entre la fuerza durante una contracción excéntrica de isquiotibial y la fuerza durante una contracción concéntrica de cuádriceps) entre hombres (n=14) y mujeres (n=14). Estos ratios se estudiaron en dos velocidades (60° s−1 y 180° s−1) y en 5 posiciones diferentes (40, 50, 60, 70 y 80 grados de flexión de rodilla). Resultados. Nuestros resultados no mostraron diferencias significativas en el ratio H/Q entre sexos. El ratio en la pierna dominante mostró valores un 9% más altos que en la pierna no dominante. Los ratios fueron de media un 53.4% más bajos en posiciones cercanas a la flexión que en posiciones cercanas a la extensión. Conclusiones. Para ambos sexos los resultados mostraron ratios más bajos en la pierna no dominante comparado con la pierna dominante. A velocidades superiores, los ratios de fuerza fueron mayores, mientras que en posiciones de mayor flexión de rodilla los ratios fueron menores. Por último, no se encontraron diferencias significativas en los ratios entre hombres y mujeres (AU)

Objetivos. O principal objetivo do nosso estudo é comparar a relação de força entre Isquiotibiais/Quadríceps (H/Q) em diferentes ângulos do joelho entre jogadores de futebol (masculino e feminino) de níveis semelhantes para determinar se existem diferenças na relação entre H/Q entre o membro dominante e a não-dominante. Método. U estudo de delineamento transversal foi utilizado para comparar a relação isométrica entre H/Q e isocinética funcional (razão entre a força dos isquiotibiais em contração excêntrica e do quadríceps em contração concêntrica, durante a extensão do joelho) entre homens (n=14) e mulheres (n=14). Estas razões foram estudadas em duas velocidades diferentes de movimento (60°/s e 180°/s) e em cinco posições diferentes (por exemplo 40, 50, 60, 70, e 80 graus de flexão do joelho). Resultados. Os resultados não mostraram diferenças significativas na relação H/Q entre os sexos. A relação da perna dominante mostrou valores médios de 9% mais elevados em relação a perna não dominante. As proporções foram, em média, 53,4% menor em posições próximas a flexão do que em posições perto da extensão. Conclusões. Para ambos os sexos, os resultados mostram razões mais baixas no membro não dominante em comparação com a dominante. À velocidade mais elevadas, as relações de força foram superiores, enquanto que em maiores flexões de joelho as relações foram menores. Finalmente, não foram encontradas diferenças significativas nas proporções entre homens e mulheres (AU)

Desplazamiento del centro de presiones en personas con síndrome de Down en bipedestación / Desprendimento do centro de pressão em pessoas com síndrome de Down em posição bípede / Center of pressure displacements in individuals with Down syndrome during a bipedal position

Objetivo. Valorar el equilibrio de adultos con síndrome de Down a través del estudio del desplazamiento del centro de presiones. Método. Estudio transversal de casos y controles. Doce sujetos con síndrome de Down y 12 sin síndrome de Down formaron parte del estudio. Todos los participantes realizaron 2 pruebas sobre plataforma dinamométrica: i) estática con ojos abiertos y ii) estática con ojos cerrados. Las señales del centro de presiones fueron analizadas en el dominio temporal. Se utilizaron contrastes no paramétricos para el análisis estadístico de los datos. Resultados. Los resultados mostraron diferencias significativas entre-grupos en las variables rango anteroposterior, fuerza anteroposterior y fuerza medio-lateral (p < 0.05). Las comparaciones intragrupos mostraron peores resultados en las pruebas con ojos cerrados en ambos grupos. Conclusión. En el presente trabajo las personas con síndrome de Down presentaron un control del equilibrio mermado al compararlo con sujetos sin síndrome de Down. Los datos obtenidos no son concluyentes para determinar cuál de los sistemas involucrados en el control del equilibrio es el responsable de estos resultados (AU)

Objetivo. Avaliar o equilíbrio de adultos com síndrome de Down através do estudo do desprendimento do centro de pressão. Método. Estudo transversal de caso e controlos. Doze sujeitos com SD e 12 sem Síndrome de Down fizeram parte do estudo. Todos os participantes realizaram 2 provas sobre plataforma dinamométrica: i) estática com olhos abertos e ii) estática com olhos fechados. Os sinais dos centros de pressões foram analisados em domínio temporal. Foram utilizados testes não paramétricos para a análise estatística dos dados. Resultados. Os resultados mostraram diferenças significativas entre grupos nas variáveis de intervalo ântero-posterior, força ântero-posterior e força médio-lateral (p < 0.05). As comparações intragrupos mostram piores resultados nas provas de equilíbrio com olhos fechados para ambos os grupos. Conclusão. No presente estudo, as pessoas com Síndrome de Down apresentaram um controlo de equilíbrio diminuído em comparação a sujeitos sem Síndrome de Down. Os dados obtidos não são conclusivos para determinar qual dos sistemas envolvidos no controlo do equilíbrio é responsável por estes resultados (AU)

Objective. To evaluate body balance of adults with Down syndrome based on the analysis of their centre of pressure behaviour. Method. Cross-sectional case control-study. Twelve individuals with Down syndrome and twelve without Down syndrome took part in the study. All the participants were tested under two conditions on a force plate: i) static with eyes open and ii) static with eyes closed. Centre of pressure signals were analyzed in time domain. Non-parametric contrasts were used for statistical analysis. Results. Statistical differences between groups were found in anteroposterior range, anterior-posterior force and medio-lateral force (p < 0.05). Within-groups comparisons showed poorer results in eyes closed conditions for both groups. Conclusion. Individuals with Down syndrome involved in the present study showed deficits in balance control when compared with people without Down syndrome. The obtained data are not conclusive. The participation of the different systems which control balance in people with Down syndrome remains unknown (AU)

Time and frequency analysis of the static balance in young adults with Down syndrome.

The main objective of this study is to understand the differences in equilibrium control between normal subjects and those with Down syndrome. A total of 54 subjects participated voluntarily, divided into control group and Down syndrome group. The equilibrium of the subjects was tested under two conditions: bipedal support with eyes open and closed. The signals were analyzed in a time and frequency domain. The statistical parameters selected (i.e., RMS distance, mean velocity, mean frequency and sway area) to analyze the behavior of the center of pressures (CoP) are calculated employing the result of the combination of the time series data in both directions (i.e. resultant distance). In order to calculate the frequency bands produced by the displacements of the CoP, a Fast Fourier Transform of the data was performed. The group with Down syndrome showed poorer static equilibrium control than the control group in the time domain. In the frequency domain, we found differences between the groups in the distribution of energy in the frequency bands analyzed. In addition, we observed the existence of an interaction effect of the group and the condition tested (p<0.001). These findings show that in the absence of visual information, the control group increases the energy at low frequencies, while the group with Down syndrome decreases it. Additionally, the lower amount of energy observed in this band under the 'eyes closed' condition may serve to identify abnormalities in the functioning of the vestibular apparatus of individuals with Down syndrome and/or difficulties experienced by these individuals in extracting relevant information from this route.

A comparison of elastic tubing and isotonic resistance exercises.

The aim of this study was to assess effects of a short-term resistance program on strength in fit young women using weight machines/free weights or elastic tubing. 42 physically fit women (21.79±0.7 years) were randomly assigned to the following groups: (i) the Thera-Band (®) Exercise Station Group (TBG); (ii) the weight machines/free weights group (MFWG); or (iii) the control group (CG). Each experimental group performed the same periodised training program that lasted for 8 weeks, with 2-4 sessions per week and 3-4 sets of 8-15 submaximal reps. A load cell (Isocontrol; ATEmicro, Madrid, Spain) was used to test the evolution of the Maximum Isometric Voluntary Contraction (MIVC) in 3 different exercises: Vertical Rowing (VR), Squat (S) and Back Extension (BE). A mixed model MANOVA [group (CG, TBG, MFWG) x testing time (pre-test, post-test)] was applied to determine the effect of the different resistance training devices on strength. The only groups to improve their MIVC (p<0.005) were TBG and MFWG, respectively: VR 19.87% and 19.76%; S 14.07 and 28.88; BE 14.41% and 14.00%. These results indicate that resistance training using elastic tubing or weight machines/free weights have equivalent improvements in isometric force in short-term programs applied in fit young women.