Physical activity levels of children and adolescents with moderate-to-severe intellectual disability

Regular participation of children and adolescents with intellectual disabilites in physical activity is important to maintain good health and to acquire motor skills. The aim of this study was to investigate the habitual physical activity in these children.

Sixty-eight children and adolescents (2-18 years) with a moderate-to-severe intellectual disability were included in the analyses. They wore an accelerometer on eight consecutive days. Data was analysed by use of descriptive statistics and multiple linear regression analyses.

The participants took on average 6,677 ± 2,600 steps per day, with intensity of 1,040 ± 431 counts per minute. In total, 47% of the participants were meeting physical activity recommendations. Low motor development was associated with low physical activity.

As more than half of the participants were not meeting the recommendations, family and caregivers of these children should focus on supporting and motivating them to explore and expand their physical activities.