141st APHA Annual Meeting

In This section

290092
Outcomes of strength and balance exercise program and a walking program among older adults with intellectual disabilities

Monday, November 4, 2013 : 1:00 PM - 1:15 PM

Kelly Hsieh, PhD , Department of Disability and Human Development, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL
James Rimmer, PhD , School of Health Professions, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL
Sumithra Murthy, MBBS, MPH , Department of Disability and Human Development, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL
Background: Falls are a major health problem among older adults with intellectual disabilities (ID). Studies on fall prevention trials for this population are scarce. The study examines whether a 6-month strength and balance training or walking program can improve lower extremity strength.

Method: Seventy-eight participants with mild or moderate intellectual disabilities were randomly assigned to a strength and balance training (N=28), a walking program (N=18), or a control group (N=32). Participants in the strength and balance group received a 45-minute session of strength and balance exercise using a 10-lb ankle weigh, three times a week, and participants in the walking group walked 30-minutes a day, five days a week. Outcome measures included lower extremity strength (knee flexion, knee extension, and ankle dorsiflexion) and balance (timed up and go test, four scale balance test, and 4-meter walk gait speed test). The measures were assessed at baseline, post intervention, and 6 months afterwards.

Results: There were no significant group differences in the outcome measures from baseline to post-intervention. However, significant group effects on knee extension and ankle dorsiflexion were noted from post-intervention to 6 months after. Participants in the walking group improved their lower extremity strength (knee extension and ankle dorsiflexion), while decreases were noted in strength and balance participants from post-intervention to 6 months after.

Conclusions: These findings imply that adults with ID might obtain long term benefits from walking at least 150 minutes a week regularly. Implications and future research on fall prevention programs in community settings will be discussed.

Learning Areas:
Conduct evaluation related to programs, research, and other areas of practice
Diversity and culture
Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Public health or related research

Learning Objectives:
Describe a strength and balance exercise program for adults with intellectual disabilities. Compare the effectiveness of the strength and balance exercise program and the walking program in improving lower extremity strength and walking balance.

Keywords: Disability, Health Promotion

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am a Research Associate Professor in the Department of Disability and Human Development, and Associate Director of Evaluation and Statistics for the RRTC on Lifespan Health and Function at UIC. I have been the principal or co-principal investigator of multiple federally funded grants focusing on the relationship between health risk behaviors and health outcomes including obesity, falls, cardiovascular disease, and dementia across lifespan among individuals with intellectual/ developmental disabilities using epidemiological approach.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.