Detraining Effects on Body Mass Index and Motor Performance in Boys with Down Syndrome: A One-Year Follow-Up Study

Down syndrome is one of the most common chromosomal disorders and is associated with multiple challenges in cognitive, motor, and physical development. The aim of the present study was to evaluate changes in body mass index (BMI) and perceptual–motor performance in boys with Down syndrome one year after completing a six-week program of aerobic and resistance exercises under conditions of detraining. This quasi-experimental study used a pretest–posttest–one-year follow-up design and was conducted on 30 boys with Down syndrome aged 7 to 14 years (BMI = 18.6367 ± 3.479). Participants were randomly assigned to three groups: aerobic training, resistance training, and control. After completing the six-week training program, all participants underwent a one-year detraining period and were re-evaluated at the end of this period. Data were analyzed using multivariate analysis of variance with repeated measures. The results showed a significant increase in BMI across all groups over the one-year period (p < .001). In addition, gross motor skills, fine motor skills, and upper-limb coordination, which had improved following the initial intervention, showed a marked decline during detraining. The degree of skill regression was less pronounced in the resistance training group compared to the aerobic training group; however, this difference was not sufficient to prevent performance decline over time. Overall, the findings indicated that the positive effects of short-term exercise interventions in children with Down syndrome do not persist without ongoing physical activity. These results underscore the importance of designing continuous, combined, and long-term rehabilitative exercise programs to prevent the deterioration of motor abilities and to maintain physical health indicators in this vulnerable population.