Bone quality in young adults with intellectual disability involved in adapted competitive football

Abstract

The objective of this study was to analyse bone quality parameters of football players with intellectual disability (ID) participating in adapted competitive football. Sixty-seven male football players with ID were studied: 22 with Down syndrome (DS) and 45 without DS. The average age was 26 years (range: 16 ̶ 50 years). A group of 25 age-matched sedentary individuals with ID (11 DS and 14 non-DS) and another group of 20 healthy participants of the same age group not involved in competitive football were comparatively analysed. There were no differences in the bone quality parameters when the healthy sedentary individuals were compared with both the sedentary and the football players with ID. However, the speed of sound (SOS), T-score, and estimated bone mineral density (BMD) were of higher values in the football players with ID than in the sedentary ID group (p < 0.05). On comparing the football players with non-DS ID with the sedentary non-DS individuals, significant differences were noted in SOS (p < 0.01), T-scores (p < 0.01), and estimated BMD (p < 0.01). Four of the 45 non-DS (8.9%) and none of the football players with DS had T-scores less than −1.5. Two of the 14 sedentary non-DS participants (14.3%) had T-scores indicating osteoporosis. In summary, the ID population actively involved in football showed higher values of bone mass parameters than their sedentary ID and healthy peers. The participants with non-DS ID showed a higher prevalence of osteoporosis than the football players with DS. Participation in sports seems to prevent bone loss in individuals with ID.

Nutritional and bone health status in young men with mild‐to‐moderate intellectual disability and without intellectual disability residing in community setting in Malaysia

“…Based on cross‐sectional data of SOS among Malaysian men (mean ( SD ) = 1,520.2 (30.4) m/s) (Chin et al, ), recruiting 37 participants would be sufficient to detect a true difference of 20 m/s (Lizondo, Caplliure‐Llopis, Escriva, De La Rubia, & Barrios, ) (80% power and 5% probability of type I error). After allowing for a 20% of dropout, a total of 44 participants from each group were required.…”

Significance of Sport Activities for Persons With Disabilities

“…In 2019, Lizondo et al, analyzed and compared bone quality parameters of different ID groups and people without ID. Based on the results, authors suggested that physical activity improves bone mass in ID individuals, therefore it should be recommended for preventive care (Lizondo et al, 2019). In a different sport, on a periodized swimming training program in individuals with Down's syndrome, improvements were found on swimming speed and performance times in sprint distances.…”

The health effects of 14 weeks of physical activity in a real-life setting for adults with intellectual disabilities

“…Interventions with both aerobic and resistance training has shown that the participants experienced the benefits from both these modalities, within 10-20 weeks (Calders et al, 2011; Elmahgoub et al, 2011; Oviedo, Guerra-Balic, Baynard, & Javierre, 2014). PA for individuals with ID seem to induce reductions in body weight and fat mass (Elmahgoub et al, 2011; Son, Jeon, & Kim, 2016), and improved bone health (González-Agüero et al, 2012; Lizondo, Caplliure-Llopis, Escrivá, De La Rubia, & Barrios, 2019), but the results are equivocal within these areas, and more research is warranted. Improvements in the above-mentioned domains have a positive influence on general health.…”