A Literature Review and Meta-Analysis of the Effects of Regular Exercise on Health-Related Physical Fitness Factors in Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities in Korea

[Objective] The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of regular exercise on health-related physical fitness factors in individuals with intellectual disabilities. [Methods] Literatures were searched for using RISS, KISS, and the national assembly library to derive conclusions. Cochrane ROB was used for the qualitative evaluation of selected researches. Mean difference, standardized mean difference(SMD), and 95% CI were selected and a random-effect model were used for effect size. Moreover, heterogeneity of included researches was assessed using Cochran’s Q statistics and I2. [Results] Regular exercise improved muscular endurance(ES=1.44, 95% CI .53-2.35, p=.002), flexibility(ES=.63, 95% CI .08-1.17, p=.02), and agility(.62, 95% CI .08-1.16, p=.03) in individuals with intellectual disabilities. The effect size of muscular strength(ES=1.23, 95%CI .39-2.85, p=.14) and cardiorespiratory endurance(ES=.49, 95% CI-.50-1.49, p=.33) was comparatively high but was not statistically significant. [Conclusions] It is confirmed that regular exercise is an effective method to improve health-related physical fitness factors in individuals with intellectual disabilities. Moreover, it is found that physical fitness factors which can be improved are different according to an exercise intervention program. The results will be applied as basic data to design more precise exercise programs to improve the health-related physical fitness factors of individuals with intellectual disabilities.