The Influence of a Rhythmic Motor-Learning Intervention on Selected Physical and Physiological Variables among Children with Mild Intellectual Disability

Objectives. This experimental study aimed to examine the effects of a 12-week unified rhythmic activity intervention on selected physical and physiological parameters among children with mild intellectual disability. Materials and Methods. Thirty children (aged 10–14 years) diagnosed with mild intellectual disability (IQ 50–70) were randomly assigned to either an experimental group (n = 15) or a control group (n = 15). The experimental group participated in a structured unified rhythmic activity program, while the control group continued their regular school routines. Pre- and post-intervention assessments included body mass index (BMI), body fat percentage, flexibility, muscular endurance, cardiovascular endurance, resting heart rate (RHR), and vital capacity (VC). A two-way mixed-design ANOVA (2 groups × 2 time points) was employed to evaluate the main and interaction effects. Results. A significant main effect of time was observed for flexibility (p < 0.001, ηp² = 0.68), muscular endurance (p = 0.002, ηp² = 0.54), cardiovascular endurance (p < 0.001, ηp² = 0.72), RHR (p = 0.008, ηp² = 0.48), and VC (p = 0.001, ηp² = 0.58). Additionally,significant group × time interaction effects were found for flexibility (p < 0.001, ηp² = 0.62), muscular endurance (p = 0.003, ηp² = 0.51), cardiovascular endurance (p < 0.001, ηp² = 0.65), and RHR (p = 0.012, ηp² = 0.42), with the experimental group showing superior improvements. No substantial changes were observed for BMI or body fat percentage. Conclusions. The unified rhythmic activity intervention produced meaningful improvements in flexibility, muscular endurance, cardiovascular fitness, and resting heart rate among children with mild intellectual disability. These findings support incorporating rhythmic movement-based training into adapted physical education programs to enhance physical and physiological outcomes in this population.