Physical activity levels of children and adolescents with moderate‐to‐severe intellectual disability

• Published in: Journal of applied research in intellectual disabilities Vol. 32; no. 1; pp. 131 - 142
• Main Authors: Wouters, Marieke, Evenhuis, Heleen M., Hilgenkamp, Thessa I. M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Wiley-Blackwell 01.01.2019; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc; John Wiley and Sons Inc
• Subjects: accelerometry; Adolescence; Adolescents; Children; Childrens health; Correlation; Exercise; Health behavior; Intellectual disabilities; Intellectual Disability; Measurement Equipment; moderate‐to‐vigorous physical activity; Motor Development; Multiple Regression Analysis; Original; physical activity; Physical Activity Level; Physical Health; Teenagers; Netherlands; motor development; accelerometry; moderate-to-vigorous physical activity; intellectual disability; physical activity
• ISSN: 1360-2322; 1468-3148; 1468-3148
• DOI: 10.1111/jar.12515

Background Regular participation of children and adolescents with intellectual disabilites in physical activity is important to maintain good health and to acquire motor skills. The aim of this study was to investigate the habitual physical activity in these children. Methods Sixty‐eight children and adolescents (2–18 years) with a moderate‐to‐severe intellectual disability were included in the analyses. They wore an accelerometer on eight consecutive days. Data was analysed by use of descriptive statistics and multiple linear regression analyses. Results The participants took on average 6,677 ± 2,600 steps per day, with intensity of 1,040 ± 431 counts per minute. In total, 47% of the participants were meeting physical activity recommendations. Low motor development was associated with low physical activity. Conclusions As more than half of the participants were not meeting the recommendations, family and caregivers of these children should focus on supporting and motivating them to explore and expand their physical activities.