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This study was aimed at investigating the effectiveness of assisted therapy (ACT) on manual dexterity in older adults with Down syndrome (DS). Nine older participants with DS, aged 31–52 years old, completed a 30-min stationary cycling session, three times per week for eight weeks of ACT intervention, pedaling at 35% higher than voluntary speed. Another eight older participants with DS, aged 30–51 years old, participated in the voluntary cycling (VC) intervention, pedaling at voluntary speed, as the comparison group. Manual dexterity measured by the Purdue Pegboard Test, and outcome expectations measured by the Exercise Perception Scale, were tested before and after the interventions. After both exercise interventions, the results showed that the non-dominant hand and bimanual subtests of the Purdue Pegboard were significantly improved. The outcome expectations were elevated at marginally statistical level as well. It is speculated that continuous cycling exercise, VC and ACT, may stimulate peripheral sensory input to the motor areas that led to the improvements in manual dexterity and exercise perception. Even though the exact mechanisms are still unknown, the implication of our results showed that VC and ACT can improve manual dexterity in aging DS population.

This study was aimed at investigating the impact of music on exercise performance and affective response to exercise in individuals with Down syndrome (DS). Twelve individuals with DS completed a treadmill walking protocol in both music and no music conditions. Heart rate (HR), walking steps, rate of perceived exertion (RPE), and enjoyment scores were measured in this study. Participants significantly walked more steps with increased exercise HR and percentage MaxHR achieved under music condition. It is speculated that the involvement of music may motivate participants with DS to exert more effort. However, RPE and enjoyment were not significantly affected by music. The positive effect of music may not be strong enough to interfere with peripheral sensory input since half the participants performed at a vigorous level. Still, the implication of our results showed that music could promote physical performance for health benefits in individuals with DS.

The aim of this research study was to examine the effects of Assisted Cycling Therapy (ACT) on adaptive/maladaptive behaviors, depression, and self-efficacy in adolescents with Down syndrome (DS). The participants were counterbalanced to either intervention groups of 1) Assisted Cycling Therapy (ACT), in which the participants’ voluntary pedaling rates were augmented with a motor to ensure the maintenance of 80 rpm or greater 2) Voluntary Cycling (VC), in which participants cycled at their self-selected pedaling rate or 3) No Cycling (NC), in which the participants sat and watched a video. The ACT and VC groups exercised 3 days a week for 8 weeks for 30 min. Adaptive behavior was measured by the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scale (VABS) II to analyze the changes in daily living skills and maladaptive behaviors, depression was measured by the Children’s Depressive Inventory, and exercise perception and self-efficacy were measured by the PASE scale, pre and post interventions. The result of this study revealed that social coping skills (p = .001) and depression (p = .022) improved more after participating in ACT than VC or NC interventions. In addition, externalizing maladaptive behaviors (p = .023) improved pre and post ACT and VC interventions but not NC. Our results are discussed with respect to neurological mechanisms associated with our interventions and their effect on functioning in adolescents with DS.

This study was aimed at investigating the effects of the inclusive soccer program on psychological benefits in young adults with and without intellectual disabilities (ID). In the current study, sport motivation, measured as the relative autonomy index, visuo-spatial working memory and selective attention aspects of executive function, measured as the computerized Corsi Block Tapping Test and Eriksen Flanker Test were assessed. Ten participants with ID and ten typical partners practiced soccer activities together for 50-min each session, twice a week for fifteen-week long. The whole practice sessions were monitored at moderate exercise intensity. Measures were tested at pre- and post- program. Our results indicated that the typical partners improved the performance in Corsi Block Tapping Test because partners needed to search and select participants with ID and targets simultaneously in a spatial field. The increased relative autonomy index was noted in participants with ID. They also improved response accuracy in Eriksen Flanker Test because they were requested to evaluate, analyze, and take the appropriate actions at all times during practice. Thus, the demanding of inclusive soccer activities might promote sport motivation in participants with ID and lead to different cognitive benefits in participants with ID and their partners respectively. Future research is needed to examine with a larger sample size. In addition, more cognitive and physiological measures should be applied to explore the underlying mechanisms among individuals with ID.

This study aimed at investigating the effect of inclusive soccer program on motor performance and sport skill in young adults with and without intellectual disabilities (ID). Twelve participants with ID and twelve typical partners practiced 50-min each session, twice a week for 15-week long. All participants were encouraged to perform the practice at moderate exercise intensity. Measures of manual dexterity, mobility and soccer skills were tested pre- and post- program. This study showed participants with ID were able to perceive and report a number of exertion level in response to the intensity of exercise. In addition, participants with and without ID improved their performance in the Purdue Pegboard Test and Special Olympics Soccer Skill test. Thus, the mutual benefits in physical and motor performance were also evident in the typical partners. Our findings can encourage school and community to implement the inclusive sport programs. Lastly, the comparison groups and more measures are needed to generalize the findings to the large group.

This study was aimed at investigating the dose-response relationship between acute exercise and its effects on manual motor control mediated by the intensity of exercise in individuals with Down syndrome (DS). Participants were randomized into vigorous-intensity exercise (i.e., 75–85% of predicted MaxHR), moderate-intensity exercise (i.e., 50–75% of predicted MaxHR) or control groups. The exercise groups performed an incremental walking protocol on the treadmill and the control group watched a video for 20-min. Measures of grip strength and manual dexterity were tested pre- and post- intervention. A quadric trend was seen in grip strength, such that the moderate-intensity exercise was beneficial for grip force production. However, inconsistent with previous studies, neither a quadric trend nor a linear trend was evident in the performance of the Purdue Pegboard Test. Thus, a large sample size and brain imaging measures are needed to explore the underlying mechanisms involved in individuals with DS.

Six-minute walk test (6MWT) has been shown to be a valid and reliable measure of functional performance with respect to mobility in individuals with Down syndrome (DS). However, a wide variability of walking distance was observed from previous studies. Thus, there is a need to investigate the possible influencing factors of walking distance of the 6MWT in this population. In the current study, fourteen adolescents and young adults with DS, aged 14-30 yr. were recruited. Anthropometric variables, such as chronological age (CA), mental age (MA), Body Mass Index (BMI), level of physical activity (PA), grip strength, represented as muscular strength, leg length, resting heart rate (RHR), exercise heart rate (EHR) and walked distance of 6MWT (6MWD) were measured during their laboratory visit. Our results indicated the positive associations between the level of PA, grip strength, leg length and 6MWD. The total of 37.7% of the variance in 6MWD can be explained while considering the level of PA and grip strength in this population. Future research is still needed to include elderly populations with DS and more measures (i.e., motivation, leg length) to implement effective intervention and optimize functional performance in individuals with DS.