Background: Physical fitness is relevant for wellbeing and health, but knowledge on the feasibility and reliability of instruments to measure physical fitness for older adults with intellectual disability is lacking. Methods: Feasibility and testretest reliability of a physical fitness test battery (Box and Block Test, Response Time Test, walking speed, grip strength, 30-s chair stand, 10-m Incremental Shuttle Walking Test and the Extended Modified Back-Saver Sit-and-Reach Test) were investigated in older adults with ID in a convenience sample of 36 older adults (mean 65.9, range 5089 years), with differing levels of intellectual disability and mobility. Results and conclusion: All tests to measure physical fitness in older adults with ID had moderate to excellent feasibility and had sufficient testretest reliability (ICCs .63.96). No statistically significant learning effects were found.

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doi.org/10.3109/13668250.2012.681773, hdl.handle.net/1765/66330
Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability
Department of General Practice

Hilgenkamp, T., van Wijck, R., & Evenhuis, H. (2012). Feasibility and reliability of physical fitness tests in older adults with intellectual disability: A pilot study. Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability, 37(2), 158–162. doi:10.3109/13668250.2012.681773