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Research in health and quality of life

Effects of an intervention programme aimed at increasing physical activity in older people with intellectual disabilities: A randomized controlled trial

The number of older people with intellectual disabilities will increase in the forthcoming decennia. However, healthy ageing is not obvious in this population. Most older people with intellectual disabilities are physically inactive, which has negative consequences for their independence in daily activities, health and quality of life. As a consequence, care consumption and caregiver burden will be high. Programmes aiming at improving physical activity in older people with intellectual disabilities are lacking.

This project aims to develop a feasible evidence-based day-time programme for increasing physical activity in older people with mild to moderate intellectual disabilities, aiming at increasing motor fitness, health and well-being. The programme’s effectiveness will be evaluated using a randomized controlled trial; the programme’s feasibility will be evaluated using a process evaluation. The programme will consist of two components:

  1. Communicating about the body, physical exercise and health;
  2. Offering physical exercise activities.

Research question

Can older people with mild to moderate intellectual disabilities be motivated to regularly engage in moderate physical exercise activities? More specifically:

  1. What is the effect of the physical activity programme on physical fitness (stgrenght, endurance, balance, flexibility, blood pressure, body composition, glucose levels and cholesterol levels)?
  2. What is the effect of the physical activity programme on performing activities of daily living, functional decline, depressive symptoms and quality of life?
  3. To what extent do demographical, physical, and psychological characteristics contribute to the programme’s effectiveness?
  4. To what extent do demographical, physical, and psychological characteristics contribute to programme participation?