Feasibility and Efficacy of a Judo-Based Program for Adolescents With Intellectual Disabilities: A Multinational...

This study was conducted to examine the feasibility and potential efficacy of an adapted judo program for adolescents with intellectual disability using a pragmatic multicenter controlled design. A total of 127 participants (15.2 ± 4.16 years) from six European countries were allocated to an experimental (n = 104) or control group (n = 23), primarily at school or classroom level, with partial nonrandom assignment due to practical constraints. The experimental group completed two 60-min sessions per week over one school year, while controls maintained usual activities. Feasibility was assessed through attendance and stakeholder ratings. Outcomes included physical fitness variables and quality of life (KidsLife), analyzed using adjusted linear mixed models. Participation and completion exceeded 80%, with minimal adverse events and high feasibility ratings. Significant Group × Time interactions (p < .001) indicated greater improvements in the experimental group, with large effect sizes (d = 1.15-1.31).