Author: Kong Z1, Sze TM2, Yu JJ3, Loprinzi PD4, Xiao T5, Yeung AS6, Li C7, Zhang H8, Zou L9
Affiliation:
1Faculty of Education, University of Macau, Macao, China. zwkong@um.edu.mo.
2Faculty of Education, University of Macau, Macao, China. tmsze@um.edu.mo.
3Department of Sports Science and Physical Education, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong, China. jieyu0203@gmail.com.
4Department of Health, Exercise Science and Recreation Management, The University of Mississippi, University, MS 38677, USA. pdloprin@olemiss.edu.
5College of Mathematics and Statistics, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China. taoxiao@szu.edu.cn.
6Depression Clinical and Research Program at the Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA. ayeung@mgh.harvard.edu.
7Physical Education and Sports Science Academic Group, National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637616, Singapore. cxlilee@gmail.com.
8Faculty of Education, University of Macau, Macao, China. frank2011macau@gmail.com.
9Lifestyle (Mind-Body Movement) Research Center, College of Sports Science, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China. liyezou123@gmail.com.
Conference/Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health.
Date published: 2019 Mar 30
Other:
Volume ID: 16 , Issue ID: 7 , Special Notes: doi: 10.3390/ijerph16071152. , Word Count: 192
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of Tai Chi (TC) on anthropometric parameters and physical fitness among children and adolescents with intellectual disabilities (ID).
METHODS: Sixty-six Chinese individuals engaged in sport-related extracurricular activities (TC and aerobic exercise (AE)) as exercise interventions or arts/crafts activities as a control condition (CON). The experimental protocol consisted of a baseline assessment, a 12-week intervention period, and a post-intervention assessment.
RESULTS: Significant interaction effect was only observed in the performance of a 6-min walk test. After 12 weeks of intervention, the AE group had significant changes in body mass index (p = 0.006, d = 0.11), sit-ups (p = 0.030 and d = 0.57), and 6-min walk test (p = 0.005, d = 0.89). Significant increases in vertical jump (p = 0.048, d = 0.41), lower-limb coordination (p = 0.008, d = 0.53), and upper-limb coordination (p = 0.048, d = 0.36) were observed in the TC group. Furthermore, the TC group demonstrated significantly greater improvements on balance compared to the control group (p = 0.011).
CONCLUSIONS: TC may improve leg power and coordination of both lower and upper limbs, while AE may be beneficial for body mass index, sit-ups and cardiorespiratory fitness.
KEYWORDS: BMI; aerobic exercise; balance; coordination; developmental disability; flexibility; mind–body movement
PMID: 30935071 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph16071152
