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The practice of physical exercise (PE), especially strength training (ST), has health benefits in the healthy population; however, the literature is scarce in the recommendations related to the population with intellectual disability (ID). This study represents the first analysis on the topic and aims to examine the structure and efficacy of ST experimental intervention programs in individuals with ID. This systematic review was carried out between January and April 2021, using the PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and SPORTDiscus databases, according to the PRISMA guidelines.
- intellectual disabilities
- neuromuscular training
- physical exercise program
- resistance training
1. Introduction
ST aims to provoke adaptations in the skeletal musculature through overloads, providing an increase in the production of muscle strength and activity of glycolytic enzymes, as well as the production of adenosine triphosphate/phosphocreatine and adaptations in the nervous system, in order to increase the recruitment of motor units [1][2]. During ST, the lower and upper limbs move against a resistance provided by gravity, body weight, dumbbells, straps, weighted bars, or exercise machines [3][4][5]. This entire process results in cellular micro-lesions, mainly in the eccentric action phase, activating defense systems such as neutrophils, macrophages, and cytokines, which will generate reactive oxygen and nitrogen species [6]. These micro-sockets are important for the muscle recovery and regeneration process due to the fusion of satellite cells with a main cell, and the induction of protein synthesis metabolism and muscle tissue recovery [30]. Thereafter, ST seems to induce muscle skeletal adaptations as a result of overload, providing an increase in the production of muscular strength and other central nervous system adaptations [1][2].
2. Analysis on Results
2.1. Selection of Studies
The initial research carried out in the four databases identified 169 studies. In the first phase, and after reading the titles and the abstracts, 23 potentially relevant studies were identified for the next phase. Considering the inclusion and exclusion criteria, previously defined for this systematic review, of the complete reading of the studies, a sample of nine was constituted for their full analysis.
Figure 1 represents the PRISMA flowchart of this systematic review.
Figure 1. Flow diagram PRISMA.
2.2. Characteristics of Studies
Table 1 shows the nine studies included for systematic review, as well as the results of the quality of information assessment. The quality analysis of the studies showed that scores varied between six and eight on the PEDro scale, thus presenting a good quality of the methodological procedures.
Table 1. Assessment of the quality of the articles, using the PEDro scale, as well as their total score.
| Author (Year) | PEDro Scale | Total | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | ||
| Fornieles et al. [7] | s | 1 | 0 | 1 | - | - | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 |
| Ghaeeni et al. [8] | s | 1 | 0 | 1 | - | - | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 |
| Kachouri. et al. [9] | s | 1 | 0 | 1 | - | - | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 |
| Neto et al. [10] | ||||||||||||
| Shields and Taylor | ||||||||||||
| [ | ||||||||||||
| 14 | ||||||||||||
| ] | s | 1 | 1 | 1 | - | - | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 8 |
| Shields et al. [15] | s | 1 | 1 | 1 | - | - | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 8 |
Notes: Item 1, not scoreable; Items 5 and 6, no applicability.
Table 2 shows the aims, the participants, study designs and the assessment of the instruments/techniques used in the studies included.
Table 2. Characteristics of the strength training programs of the nine studies.
Abbreviations: BMI, body mass index; CG, control group; DS, Down Syndrome; GE, exercise group; ID, intellectual disability; IQ, intelligence quotient; min, minutes; N, number of participants; s, seconds; RM, maximum repetition; ST, strength training; ♂, male gender; ♀, female gender.
2.3. Origin
From the nine selected studies that were analyzed in the systematic review, one is from Asia [8], another from Africa [9], two are from Oceania [14][15], two others are from America [10][11] and three are from Europe, with Spain being the country with the largest number of publications about this topic [7][12][13].
2.4. Participants
The total number of participants involved in the selected studies are 280, 150 included in the intervention groups and 130 as part of the control groups. The subjects’ mean age from all the studies is 18.23 ± 2.86 years, including children, adolescents, and young adults. All the studies used participants with ID and associated Down syndrome, except for the study of Kachouri et al. [9]. There is a shortage of studies in the literature that implemented ST programs in participants with ID without any other associated condition and using a randomized controlled method.
2.5. Evaluation Protocols/Instruments/Techniques
Most studies used assessment instruments, such as the agility test, the “box stacking” test, the “supermarket” test, the “bucket transportation” test, or the stairs up/down test [7][12][14][15] to evaluate functional capacity. The anthropometric assessment was accomplished using weight, height, waist circumference, and Body Mass Index—BMI [10][11]. Some studies also evaluate fat-free mass and fat mass using the electrical bioimpedance method or subcutaneous adiposity skinfolds [10][11][12]. Although there was a wide dispersion in the evaluation methods used in different studies, the neuromuscular capacity is always assessed either through the exercises prescribed in the training programs or through standard assessments. Maximal and submaximal strength tests were used, such as the one max repetition test—1 RM [14][15], the 8 RM [7][13], the handgrip test measured by manual dynamometer [11][13], and different isokinetic strength tests measured by isokinetic dynamometer [13]. It should be noted that Ghaeeni’s [8] and Neto’s [10] studies did not assess neuromuscular capacity, despite applying ST programs. Table 3 shows the duration/frequency, type of exercises, intensity, and results of the nine selected studies.
Table 3. Characteristics of the strength training protocols from the nine studies.
Abbreviations: min, minutes; ND, not defined; rep, repetition; RM, maximum repetition; s, second.
2.6. Characteristics of the Strength Training Protocols
Table 3 shows the characteristics of the ST protocols. The programs’ duration varied between 8 and 16 weeks, with half the studies prescribing 12 weeks [7][10][12][13]. The weekly frequency varied between two and five times, with a greater number of studies showing a weekly frequency of three sessions [7][8][9][10][12][13]. The training sessions duration varied between 45 and 60 min.
The protocols adopted varied from study to study. Six studies applied circuits in ST machines [7][10][12][13][14][15], one study included exercise performed in two surfaces conditions (firm and foam) [9], one study applied exercises with free weights [13], and one study applied an abdominal workout [8].
All studies showed a positive effect from the different ST protocols, which can be seen in Table 3.
3. Current Insights
The present systematic review aims to analyze the effects of ST in individuals with ID, based on the characterization of several programs implemented, as well as the identification of mean characteristics for ST prescription programs, namely duration, weekly frequency, appropriate assessment methods, and type of exercises. The following subsections will discuss all main point of the ST programs applied.
3.1. Program Duration
As mentioned in the results section, the programs’ durations varied between 8 and 16 weeks, with half the studies prescribing 12 weeks [7][10][12][13]. Short-term intervention programs may be a limitation presented in some studies [7][14]. Although all studies have shown several positive results (Table 1), further studies with a longer duration are needed to understand the long-term benefits, as well as the type of ST periodization to be applied in the population with ID. We consider that the duration of the training programs is critical to outwit if there are individuals who do not experience significant improvements following an exercise training intervention. Such individuals are commonly termed “non-responders”. However, recently, many researchers have taken a skeptical view as to whether exercise non-response either exists, or is clinically relevant.
3.2. Frequency
The weekly frequency followed the recommendations of the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) [16]; once weekly frequency occurred between two and five times. This number of weekly TS sessions allows adaptations that lead to catabolism and consequent protein anabolism, allowing the maintenance or increase in lean mass [1]. Moreover, except for Ortiz-Ortiz et al. [11], all the other studies did not report sessions on consecutive days. It is important to reinforce that even the study of Ortiz-Ortiz et al. [11] improved the BMI (p < 0.0001) and skin fold of the calf (p = 0.008), which suggests future studies should confirm such results.
3.3. Session Duration
The training sessions duration varied between 45 and 60 min and their structure consisted of warm-up, main phase, and a return to calm/cool down, which is in accordance with the ACSM guidelines [16]. However, some studies did not mention the session duration [7][12][13][14], which is a limitation, leaving some doubts about the recovery period that was applied, as well as the replicability of the studies.
3.4. Sets
The number of sets per exercise varied between two and six, depending on the progress and training periodization. However, the prescription of two or three sets was more frequent [7][10][12][13][14][15], in accordance with ACSM [16]. Some authors state that, in untrained individuals, both single set and multiple sets produce similar increases in muscle strength of upper and lower limbs; that is, in the early stages, the RT, regardless of number of sets, seems to be effective for improving muscle outcomes [17].
3.5. Repetitions
The number of repetitions per set varied between 6 and 30; however, most studies prescribed 6 to 12 repetitions [7][10][12][15]. This number is influenced by the prescription of one RM methods or the use of a number of repetitions by exercise (not one RM). The number of sets and repetitions per exercise can vary depending on volume and intensity [18]. This number follows previous recommendations for healthy people [19].
3.6. Intensity
ST programs presented different training intensities according to the different objectives established for the development of strength adaptations (endurance, resistance, power, etc.). The intensity expressed through the percentage of the working load expressed by the number of RM varied between 40 to 65% of 8 RM [7][12], from 40 to 50% of 8 RM [13], and from 60 to 90% of 1 RM [15]. Different purposes, different available material resources and/or individual characteristics may be some of the reasons to justify such a range of training intensities used in the different studies, not fulfilling the usual recommendations suggested by the ACSM [16]—75–80% 1 RM. Despite the reported use of different intensities, in general, the ACSM guidelines [16] were applied and all studies reported a positive effect (see ST results section).
The application of the training progression general principle was common to several studies [8][9][11][13][14][15], with an increase in intensity throughout the intervention period, regardless of the type of material/equipment used (whether the programs used weight machines, free weights, rubber bands, or other materials). The progression of the intensity increased gradually, depending on the number of training weeks or individual performance, either by increasing the percentage of the training load (by increasing the weight in the ankle shin guards), or simply by increasing the number of series and/or repetitions to perform during the training session, as recommended by the ACSM [16][18].
3.7. Exercises
According to the studies evaluated [8][11][13][14][15], most ST programs included exercises targeting the main muscle groups in each session. Although the studies analyzed use different types of equipment (weight training machines, using resistance elastics, and/or ankle weights), all of them show intentionality to use ST exercises aiming to request the main muscle group [18]. It should be noted that only two studies used a period of adaptation and familiarization to the prescribed exercises [20][21], which is important to eliminate the fear of using new materials, movement perception, and to ensure high quality results. The most common exercises used in the ST programs are the leg flexion and leg extension exercises (hamstrings and quadriceps), the abdominals in their different variants (abdomen muscles), the chest press (pectoral major), the low row or the lat pull down (latissimus dorsi), flexion of the forearm (biceps), an extension of the forearm (triceps), and elevation, abduction, or shoulder press (deltoids). When prescribing six to eight exercises, ST programs were in accordance with the recommendations provided by ACSM [16], however, in some studies, this was not the case [8][10]. In the majority of the studies, selected exercises tended to be simple and easy to be performed, with special attention and reinforcement in the instruction, demonstration, and familiarization [16][20][21]. Some individuals may experience difficulties in controlling movement, particularly in the eccentric phase, and thus it was suggested to use machines that help to better control them (for example, a chest press device rather than the bench press). Additionally, machine exercises are preferable to avoid some type of injury, for presenting a smaller range of motion; however, there were some exceptions such as the biceps curl, seen as working well in participants with ID [18].
3.8. ST Programs Outcomes
Some studies have shown significant positive effects on muscle strength in lower limbs [14], in upper and lower limbs [15], and in handgrip strength (p < 0.0001) [11]. These results are very encouraging for further studies with this population and to implement in clinical practice. A greater capacity to generate strength by the muscles (lower and upper limbs) may become an essential tool to insert these patients in professional activities due to the increase in their physical capacities [14].
Other studies found an increase in fat-free mass and a reduction in fat mass [10][11][12]. Depending on the aims and evaluation methods used, some studies reported a reduction in the waist circumference [12] of the BMI [11] and an improvement in balance [8].
An increase in the concentration of salivary immunoglobulin, testosterone levels, plasma leptin levels, TNF-α, and IL-6 was also found. Specifically, Fornieles et al. [7] showed thar resistance training program of 12 weeks increased concentration of salivary immunoglobulin (p = 0.0120), testosterone levels (p = 0.0088) and task performance (p = 0.0141). This study highlights the benefits of ST, as this increase in salivary IgA levels can prevent respiratory tract infections in individuals with DS [22]. This study also shows an improvement in the anabolic status of DS patients after the ST program, as cortisol levels remain unchanged and there was an increase in salivary testosterone. It was also found that the improvement of task performance is of great interest to this population. Having improved levels of muscle strength may allow this population to perform a greater number of activities and continue to exercise, thus reducing the risk of secondary consequences for their health [23][24]. Additionally, improvements in the response to systemic inflammation, in the antioxidant defense system, and a reduction in oxidative damage were also reported [7][12][13].
Dynamic balance as a parameter of functional capacity is also limited in individuals with ID. Even so, two studies reported improvements with ST, particularly in exercises focused to improve strength and power of the lower limbs [8][14]. These improvements were also associated with improvements in gait speed and balance [14]. Other non-randomized controlled studies have shown interesting results through the implementation of ST programs in individuals with ID, namely, cognitive effects such as positive changes in working memory, short-term memory, vocabulary knowledge, and reasoning ability [25], and improved flexibility [26] and performance in daily life activities [27]. There is an urgent need for randomized procedures to assess the benefits of these variables and aerobic capacity. Several studies have found significant differences in body composition parameters after the strength training program, namely a reduction in the BMI (p < 0.0001) and the skin fold of the calf (p = 0.008) [11]; a decreased in waist circumference (p = 0.0416) and increase in the fat-free mass (p = 0.011) [12]; and an increased in the lean mass (p = 0.008) and reduction in the fat percentage (p = 0.036) [11]. Since being overweight and obesity are associated with poor health and quality of life, these results show that strength training is a good intervention to reduce these values.
With the implementation of ST programs, despite the different prescriptions, positive results were verified in terms of the aims defined in all studies, which shows how training variables, techniques, and methods (for example, training frequency and exercise selection volume, training load and repetitions, and others), can be manipulated to optimize training response. The different results presented in Table 3 and of the non-randomized controlled studies [25][26][27] are demonstrated due to the different aims and evaluation methods used in each study, being an added value the application of ST, since it can have this wide range of benefits. All these results are important in terms of promoting the quality of life of individuals with ID, related to the conceptual model of Schalock et al. [28], a construct divided into three dimensions: (i) independence; (ii) social participation; (iii) well-being.
Some studies included in the systematic review have some limitations, which may limit the magnitude of the results. Future studies should take them into account when implementing ST programs: (i) short-term studies [7][12][15]; (ii) no follow up to determine whether the positive effects were maintained [7][12][13][15]; (iii) small sample size [9]; (iv) sample size only boys [9]; (v) exclusion of children with severe and profound ID [9]; (vi) a small number of professionals to supervise the exercises produced in the experimental protocol [10]; (vii) lack of more accurate measurements to evaluate; and (viii) a small number of outcomes [15].
At the same time, future studies are suggested to apply the assessment of body composition variables by electrical bioimpedance, such as the phase angle, since it has been considered a relevant marker of health status [29]. Moreover, a higher phase angle value is positively associated with a higher quality of cell membranes [30], while a lower value is associated with deterioration, which can compromise all cell functions [30]. Thus, phase angle assessment would be helpful to understand if there are adaptations with ST in this variable that has a strong correlation with cell health and integrity, being an excellent indicator of the capacity of the cell membrane to retain liquids, fluids, and nutrients in the population with ID.
The fact that ID is a multisystem and complex disorder characterized by the presence of delays or deficits in the development of adaptive behavior comprising conceptual, social, and motor skills may support a possible explanation why results could differ between studies and studies without the RCT method. The effects of the interventions in the various studies appear similar to those that have been reported following resistance training in the average healthy and intellectually disabled population [31][32][2][33][34]. However, some variability has also been reported in other resistance training studies and those examining other exercise modalities [35][6][14][15][25]. Inherent within any measurement are both technical error and random within-subject variation [36]. Studies included in this systematic review have shown that, although using different training intensities, it was possible to identify improvements in the variables under study; however, it is noted that, before starting the training program, it is necessary to carry out strength assessments, either through RM tests, using devices, or isokinetic, as recommended by ACSM [16], to determine the correct intensity to be used. During this strength assessment process, as during training, RM tests using free weights, push-ups, and pull-ups should be avoided [16] to prevent any type of injury. Moreover, familiarization with the assessment procedures, a practical demonstration of execution, simple instructions, constant supervision, and verbal and visual reinforcement are necessary [16][21] for greater success in the didactic-pedagogical process.
This systematic review analyzed the effects of ST in individuals with intellectual disability, aiming to be a reference guidelines tool for researchers and professionals of PE. The analyzed studies show characteristics and recommendations that professionals can follow when implementing an ST program to promote benefits and positive outcomes, namely, the maintenance of/increase in physical fitness, quality of life, and health, thus decreasing the risk of developing chronic diseases, being the strong aspect of this systematic review. Therefore, it is essential to implement this type of ST program, incorporated into the weekly routine of this population, which, when associated with an appropriate lifestyle, causes a set of adaptations and benefits and, ultimately, can promote a decrease in clinical expenses, an increase in healthy aging, and better health.
It is recommended to increase the implementation of ST programs in the target population, expanding the knowledge in terms of the methods, structure, and duration used, so that professionals can prescribe adapted and effective ST programs. At the same time, it is important that the exercise professionals have an in-depth knowledge of the individual, their comorbidities, limitations, and preferences, before prescribing and starting a PE program [18].
Despite the relevance of the selected clinical trials for the preparation of this systematic review, some limitations can be observed: (1) the diversified intervention methodology, involving different strengths, intensities, volumes, and weekly training exercise programs; (2) unclear descriptions of the process of randomization and allocation of people with ID in the groups; (3) loss of follow-up; (4) different evaluation methodologies, as well as the results, not allowing a further discussion as well as a meta-analysis about the effects produced by the several ST programs applied; (5) the level of ID was not mentioned in all studies included, which limits the generalization of the results and suggests that future studies should mention such specificity.
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