Fit for the future : Physical fitness of children and adolescents with intellectual disabilities

Children and adolescents with an intellectual disability (ID) are more vulnerable for health problems than typically developing peers. Good physical fitness is therefore important. This prevents health risk now and in the future.
This thesis describes the study on physical fitness of children and adolescents with ID. It starts with a systematic literature review and pilot study on appropriate fitness tests for children and adolescents with moderate to severe ID. In the next step, the physical fitness and physical activity was measured in 128 participants. Using retrospective data, the maximal heart rates of children and adolescents with ID were studied as well.
The results indicate that the physical fitness of children and adolescents with moderate to severe ID is very low. Secondly, more than half of the participants were not active enough according to the physical activity guidelines. Thirdly, children and adolescents with ID are shown to have lower maximal heart rates than typically developing peers.
This thesis ends with recommendations to increase the physical fitness of children and adolescents with ID in clinical practice.