The effects of resistance and combined exercises on some physical variables of intellectually disabled children with overweight

 Prevalence of obesity/overweight is the main cause of non-communicable diseases in different segments of society, especially in intellectually disabled children. The main purpose of this study was to survey the effect of 12-week resistance and combined exercises on some physiological variables in intellectually disabled children with overweight.

 In this study 24 intellectually disabled male children (Average age; 9.50±1.10 years) were randomly selected and assigned to (i) Resistance (25.3±2.2 Kg/m2; n=12) and (ii) Combined (25.1±2.2Kg/m2;n=12) training groups. The subjects participated in a 12-weeks/three sessions/week exercise program for 45 minutes. The variables of aerobic capacity, muscular strength, muscular endurance, body fat percentage, flexibility, and dynamic balance of subjects were measured before and after the interventions. Analysis of covariance statistics was used to analyze the data.

 Findings showed that in both training groups improvements were found in measured variables after exercise interventions. In between groups comparisons, there were statistically differences in aerobic capacity (Combined: %19.38 vs. Resistance: %6.75; P=0.01) and muscle strength of groups (Combined: % 7.64vs.Resistance: % 27.16; P=0.01), but in abdominal muscle endurance (Combined: % 30.15vs.Resistance: %22.90; P=0.39), Body fat percentage (Combined: % -14.52vs.Resistance:% -15.52; P=0.51), dynamic balance (Combined: % 5.80 vs. Resistance: % 6.85; P=0.12) and flexibility of subjects (Combined: % 0.21vs.Resistance:% 5.66; P=0.64) the differences weren't significant. 

 Significant improvements in the aerobic capacity as a result of combined exercises and muscle strength due to resistance training have been observed in the overweight intellectually disabled children, but in the variables of body fat percentage, dynamic balance, and flexibility, both training methods had relatively the same effects.