Background/Purpose This study investigated the impact participation in a daily walking and strength training program had on adolescents with intellectual disabilities.
Method Fifteen male, special education, high school students completed the IRB permission form required to participate in this 12 week study. Students participated in a daily walking and strength training program at their high school. Students walked the outdoor track, wearing pedometers. After their walk, students completed a strength training circuit in the weight room. Each student was assigned a station where they exercised for a predetermined time. At the beginning of the study, each station workout was 1 minute long but increased to 1.5 minutes and then 2 minutes. The exercises, selected by the primary investigator, incorporated machines, free weights, dyna bands, and gravity assisted exercises.
Analysis/Results Pre and post assessments were completed using the 3 minute step test, sit and reach, and manual muscle tester (triceps, biceps, hamstrings, and quadriceps). Participants improved from the 15th (119.4 bpm) to 25th percentile (111.63 bpm) for their gender and age on the 3 minute step test. Flexibility increased significantly (p=0.004), as did biceps (p=0.01), triceps (p=0.003) and quadriceps (0.04). Hamstring flexibility increased but not significantly (p=0.48). The number of steps completed during the walk increased throughout the study.
Conclusions Male high school students with intellectual disabilities can benefit from a daily walking and strength training program. Specifically, benefits were experienced in flexibility, cardiovascular endurance, and muscular strength (triceps, biceps, and quadriceps). Further investigation is needed regarding the muscular development of hamstrings.