Effects of Resistance Training on Adults with Down Syndrome

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to determine the effects of a resistance training protocol on the muscular strength of adults with Down Syndrome (DS). Four participants with a mean age of 26.9 years took part in a resistance training program that consisted of performing 1 set of 10 repetitions for 5 exercises. The resistance training program lasted 10 weeks. Muscular strength was measured using I-RM taken pre- and posttraining on the bench press (upper body) and leg press (lower body). Mean, SD, and effect size (ES) were reported and statistical significance was at p <.05. The study revealed that the training protocol produced significant and meaningful increases in lower body muscular strength (p <.05, ES = 0.78). It is concluded that a high-intensity resistance training protocol lasting 10 weeks increased lower body muscular strength in the adults with DS.