Effects of an 8-week combined jump rope and walking intervention on physical fitness in students with intellectual disabilities

Background and Study Aim. Individuals with intellectual disabilities (ID) face obstacles in performing physical activity. This negatively affects their fitness and quality of life. Therefore, training programs for individuals with ID need to be developed. The present study aims to determine the effects of combining step rope jumping and walking. Material and Methods. The study used a two-group pre-test and post-test quasi-experimental design. Thirty students with ID (age = 16.5 ± 1.9 years) participated. They were divided into two groups: an experimental group (n = 15) and a control group (n = 15). The experimental group received an intervention combining step rope jumping and walking. The intensity was 70%–85% of maximum heart rate for 20–30 minutes. The instruments used were sit-and-reach for flexibility, push-ups for chest and arm muscle strength, sit-ups for abdominal strength, back-ups for back strength, and a 1600-meter run/walk for cardiovascular endurance. Data were analyzed using ANCOVA. Assumption testing (normality, homogeneity, and linearity) was conducted before performing ANCOVA. Results. The results show p < 0.001; η²ₚ > 0.14; pholm < 0.001, indicating a significant difference between groups with a large effect. Conclusions. An eight-week combined jump rope and walking exercise program for individuals with ID led to improvements in flexibility, chest and arm strength, abdominal and back strength, and cardiovascular endurance. These findings suggest that the intervention can improve physical fitness in this population. The study contributes to knowledge about exercise interventions for individuals with ID. Future research should explore other types of exercise suitable for this group to support their fitness and health.