Meta-analysis of the effects of exercise programs in improving the balance ability of children with intellectual disabilities

ABSTRACT

Background: Although children with intellectual disabilities (ID) are at greater risk of falls from poorer balance ability than typically developing children, reliable information about which types of physical intervention are most effective is scarce.

Objective: A meta-analysis was used to examine the most effective programs on balance ability in children with ID.

Method: 77 effect sizes from 10 studies and the standardised mean differences in effect size were calculated using the random effects model.

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

Conclusions: Six intervention programs proved to be effective on balance and feasible for physical education in schools. Attractive and integrated sports programs were highly recommended. Systematic review registration number: CRD42018092558.

KEYWORDS:

• Intellectual disability
• meta-analysis
• physical exercise
• balance

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

ORCID

Ying Ma http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0125-9853

Notes

1 PROSPERO: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/.

2 Chinese characters were 智力障碍 (ID), 智力低下 (ID), 智力缺陷 (ID), 智障 (ID), 智能障碍 (ID), 心智迟缓 (ID), 弱智 (ID), 唐氏 (Down’s), 普拉德-威利综合征 (Prader Willi syndrome), 瑞特综合征 (Rett syndrome), and 威廉姆斯综合征 (Williams syndrome).

3 http://apps.webofknowledge.com/Search.do?product=UA&SID=6AjnlC1d3PYvz3qaFPo&search_mode=AdvancedSearch&prID=e16ef3f8-225b-4ee5-8ac9-3dcb88d07c55.

4 Convention on the Rights of the Child: Adopted and opened for signature, ratification, and accession by the General Assembly Resolution 44/25 of 20 November 1989; entry into force 2 September 1990, in accordance with article 49. Derived from http://www.ohchr.org/EN/ProfessionalInterest/Pages/CRC.aspx.

5 Online supplemental file for more details: 30 articles excluded in the final selection.

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by the National Social Science Fund of China, the National Planning Office of Philosophy and Social Science [grant number 17XTY007].