Author: Ala Cherni1,2, Nejmeddine Ouerghi2,3,4, Nidhal Jebabli2, Hatem Ghouili2, Houda Bougrine4,5, Nicola Luigi Bragazzi6,7,8, Anissa Bouassida2
Affiliation:
1 Higher Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Ksar Saïd, University of Manouba, Manouba, Tunisia.
2 High Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Kef, UR22JS01, University of Jendouba, Kef, Tunisia.
3 Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, Rabta Hospital, LR99ES11, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia.
4 High Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Gafsa, University of Gafsa, Gafsa, Tunisia.
5 Physical Activity Research Unit, Sport and Health (UR18JS01), National Observatory of Sports, Tunis, Tunisia.
6 Laboratory for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (LIAM), Department of Mathematics and Statistics, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada.
7 Postgraduate School of Public Health, Department of Health Sciences (DISSAL), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.
8 United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Health Anthropology Biosphere and Healing Systems, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.
Conference/Journal: Adapt Phys Activ Q
Date published: 2025 Feb 12
Other:
Pages: 1-19 , Special Notes: doi: 10.1123/apaq.2024-0035. , Word Count: 208
To investigate the effect of a 6-week tai chi (TC) training program on physical performance in adolescents with Down syndrome and its influence on the psychological well-being of their parents, in a randomized controlled design, 25 male adolescents with Down syndrome (age 14.4 ± 1.30 years) were randomly assigned to a control group (n = 10) or a training group (n = 15). Before and after the training period, lower limb explosive strength, upper limb strength, flexibility, and balance were assessed in all participants, as well as their parents' psychological well-being. Using 2 × 2 repeated-measures analysis of variance, significant Group × Time interactions (p < .05; .33<ηp2<.87) were found for physical measures and parents' depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms. A 6-week TC program significantly improved lower limb explosive strength (p < .001; d = 1.21), upper limb strength (p < .001; d = 1.49), flexibility (p < .001; d = 1.11), and static balance (p < .001; d = 1.99) and reduced depression (p < .001; d = 1.89), anxiety (p < .001; d = 1.74), and stress scores (p < .001; d = 1.88) in parents in the training group compared with those in the control group. TC programs improve physical measures in adolescents with Down syndrome and psychological well-being of their parents. Establishing TC programs in sport associations could positively impact this population's physical performance.
Keywords: balance; intellectual disabilities; mind–body movement; strength.
PMID: 39947187 DOI: 10.1123/apaq.2024-0035
