By: Larisa Stephenson

Carmeli, E., Barchad, S., Masharawi, Y., & Coleman, R. (2004). Impact of a walking program in people with Down syndrome. Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, 18(1), 180-84.

Purpose of abstract

In Israel, the incidence of intellectual disability (ID) has been estimated to be 3.5% of the general population, with 11% to 12% of the ID population being adults over the age of 55 years. The prevalence of peripheral vascular disease (PVD), with the primary complaint of intermittent claudication (IC), increases with age, presenting a problem for the health care system in dealing with the demographic aging. Exercise therapy has been proposed for patients without ID; however, no program has been suggested for the older adult populations with ID (who often reside in supervised community living programs). The aim of this study was to evaluate how a pain-free, low-intensity walking program would affect older adults with ID residing in institutions. The researchers of this study hypothesized that a structured, low-intensity, walking program would create positive effects on older adults with ID suffering from IC, the primary complaint of patients suffering from PVD.