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Exploring the relationship between cognitive abilities and motor performance in athletes with intellectual
Luca Cavaggioni1,2, Damiano Formenti1, Linda Casalini1
1Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy.
Frontiers in Sports and Active Living
|July 15, 2025
Summary
Basketball players with intellectual disabilities (ID) show strong links between cognitive skills and motor abilities. Improved motor skills like jump force and grip strength correlate with better cognitive function in athletes with ID.
Area of Science:
- Sports Science
- Neuroscience
- Disability Studies
Background:
- Basketball is a popular sport for athletes with intellectual disabilities (ID).
- Cognitive and motor functions are crucial for athletic performance.
- The relationship between cognitive and motor skills in athletes with ID is not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between cognitive performance and motor abilities in basketball athletes with ID.
- To identify specific motor skills that correlate with cognitive functions in this population.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study design with 23 participants with ID.
- Cognitive assessments included clinical reaction time and Bells test.
- Motor performance was evaluated using handgrip strength test (HST), countermovement jump (CMJ), and static balance.
- Anthropometric measurements included body mass index (BMI) and skinfolds.
Main Results:
- Strong negative correlation between reaction time and HST/CMJ.
- Strong positive association between Bells test performance and BMI/CMJ power.
- CMJ concentric mean force predicted 34.3% of reaction time variance.
- HST and BMI explained 53% of the variance in Bells test performance.
Conclusions:
- Cognitive and motor performance are positively correlated in basketball players with ID.
- Specific motor skills and anthropometric factors are linked to cognitive abilities.
- Findings support sports interventions to enhance physical and cognitive health in individuals with ID.
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