Objective. To describe interventions designed to promote physical activity for youth with intellectual disabilities. Materials and methods. A systematic review of nine databases until January 31, 2015 identified 213 citations. The inclusion criteria were: a) the study sample consisted of youth with intellectual disabilities, b) the study implemented an intervention to initiate, increase, or maintain physical activity, and c) quantitative or qualitative data were used to report the effectiveness of the intervention. Eleven articles from the 213 citations met this criterion. Results. Nine studies reported significant increases in physical activity behavior.
Conclusions.Conclusions cannot be made regarding intervention components that impacted outcome variables, if the observed effects were specifically due to the intervention or if interventions could be maintained long-term. To advance the knowledge base in this area, a concerted effort should be made to increase rigor in study conceptualization and research design.
ResumenObjetivo. Describir las intervenciones diseñadas para promover la actividad física para jóvenes con discapacidad intelectual. Material y métodos. Una revisión sistemá-tica de nueve bases de datos hasta el 31 de enero de 2015 identificó 213 citas. Los criterios de inclusión fueron: a) la muestra del estudio consistió en jóvenes con discapacidad intelectual, b) el estudio implementado fue una intervención para iniciar, aumentar o mantener la actividad física y datos c) cuantitativos o cualitativos se utilizaron para informar la efectividad de la intervención. Once artículos de 213 citas cumplen este criterio. Resultados. Nueve estudios informaron aumentos significativos en el comportamiento de la actividad física. Conclusión. No se pueden establecer conclusiones con respecto a los componentes de intervención variables de resultado, considerando si los efectos observados fueron específicamente debido a la intervención o intervenciones podrían mantenerse a largo plazo. Para avanzar en la base de conocimientos en esta área, se necesita un esfuerzo concertado para aumentar el rigor en el estudio unívoco.Palabras clave: actividad física; discapacidad intelectual; jóvenes; niños; adolescentes; intervención here is substantial evidence to support that regular participation in physical activity promotes physical and mental health benefits in children. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that children aged 5-17 years accumulate at least 60 minutes of moderateto-vigorous intensity physical activity each day in order to improve cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness, bone health, and cardiovascular and metabolic health biomarkers.1 Activities should be predominantly aerobic, but bone-and muscle-strengthening activities as well as vigorous physical activities should also be incorporated at least three times per week. Despite strong evidence to support the physiological and psychological health benefits associated with participation in physical activity, worldwide trends indicate that chi...