Effects of Exercise on Level of Support, Mobility, and Quality of Life in Adults with Down Syndrome

Down syndrome (Ds) is a genetic disorder characterized by the autosomal abnormality of a third copy of chromosome 21. Due to the physical and intellectual disabilities that many people with Ds experience, they often need support with (instrumental) activities of daily living. Since adults with Ds are living longer, it is important to determine how exercise can affect mobility and quality of life in the Ds community. The impact on more functional outcomes, such as level of support and quality of life has not been systematically investigated. Therefore, the aim was to investigate whether twelve weeks of a remote, structured exercise program will decrease the need of support provided by caregivers and increase quality of life compared to those doing usual activities. The participants were randomly assigned to a 12-week exercise intervention or a control condition. The exercise intervention was based on the Mann Method PT and consisted of a one-hour exercise session 3 times per week, conducted via Zoom, while the participants in the control condition continued their usual activities. All participants were evaluated before and after the 12 weeks using the following assessments: Supports Intensity Scale for Adults (SIS-A) and Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL-IDD). The baseline level of support varied between participants, with no participant being fully dependent. This study did not confirm or reject our hypotheses on the effects of an exercise program when measuring level of support and quality of life in adults with Ds, and further research is necessary to further elucidate this question.