Small Steps in Fitness, Major Leaps in Health for Adults With Intellectual Disabilities

Exerc Sport Sci Rev. 2020 Apr;48(2):92-97. doi: 10.1249/JES.0000000000000216.

Abstract

Physical fitness is positively related to health outcomes like morbidity and all-cause mortality, with minimally required cutoff values to generate those health benefits. Individuals with intellectual disability (ID) exhibit very low fitness levels well below those cutoff values. Our novel hypothesis is that even among very unfit, older adults with ID, small changes in fitness translate to major changes in health.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aging / physiology
  • Exercise / physiology*
  • Health Status*
  • Humans
  • Intellectual Disability / complications
  • Intellectual Disability / physiopathology*
  • Physical Fitness*
  • Reference Values