Strength versus aerobic program: effects on body composition and health-related physical fitness levels of youths with Down syndrome

Abstract

Aims: To determine the effect of a 16-week fitness program (strength vs. aerobic) on different indicators of body composition and components of health-related physical fitness in youths with Down syndrome.

Methods and procedures outcomes: Fifty adolescents (19 girls and 31 boys; average age, 18.33 ± 1.42 years) with Down syndrome were recruited and randomized to two groups (strength group vs. aerobic group). Adolescents allocated in the aerobic group carried out a physical activity program three times a week for 16 weeks meanwhile adolescents allocated in the strength group performed a fitness program three times a week for 16 weeks.

Results: The exercise group had significant improvements in all health-related physical fitness variables (p < .05) but not on body composition.

Conclusions and implications: A sixteen week fitness program consisting of three sessions of 60 min is able to increase levels of health-related physical fitness but not on body composition in youths with Down syndrome. The aerobic program does not seem to show significant differences.

Keywords:

• Cardiorespiratory fitness
• fatness
• strength
• Down syndrome
• youths

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Acknowledgments

The authors want to thank all participants in the study for their dedication. The authors acknowledge Ms. María Martínez Gutiérrez who provided helpful suggestions to improve the draft manuscript.