Effects of an eight-week bosu ball exercise program on core strength endurance and balance performance in intellectually disabled adolescents

The objective of this study is to investigate the impact of an eight-week bosu ball exercise (BBE) program on core strength endurance and balance performance in intellectually disabled (ID) adolescents. Twenty-nine participants (14 males and 15 females) between the ages of 11 and 14, who had been diagnosed with moderate and mild intellectual disabilities (ID) by the Provincial Guidance Research Center they were affiliated with, were included in the study. The participants underwent an eight-week program of BBE. The plank test, endurance of the right (R) and left (L) lateral flexors, endurance of abdominal muscles, and endurance of back extensor muscles were assessed to determine core region endurance before and after BBE. Additionally, balance performance was evaluated using the Y balance test. The right (R) and left (L) leg Y balance test performances of the participants before and after BBE did not change significantly according to the group*time interaction (p>0.05). In the time interaction, L-Anterior (L-An) [F-(1,F- 27)=4.273, eta(2)(p)=.137,p=.048], L-Postmedial (L-PM) [F-(1,F- 27)=15.244, eta(2)(p)=.361,p<.001], L-Postlateral (L-PL) [F-(1,F-27)=10. 703, eta(2)(p)=.284,p=.003], R-An [F-(1,F- 27)=9.833, eta(2)(p)=.267, p=. 004], R-PM [F-(1,F- 27)=9.958, eta(2)(p)=. 269,p=.004], R-PL [F-(1,F- 27)=15.681, eta(2)(p)=.367,p<.001] values increased significantly. When the core strength parameters of the participants were examined; extensor muscle endurance showed a significant change in favour of men in the group-time interaction [F-(1,F- 27)=6.619, eta(2)(p)=.197, p=.016]. In the time interaction, plank [F-(1,F- 27)=16.204, eta(2)(p)=.375, p<.001], R-lateral flexor muscles [F-(1,F- 27)=14.140, eta(2)(p)=.344,p<.001], L-lateral flexor muscles [F-(1,F- 27)=12.379, eta(2)(p)=.314,p=.002], abdominal muscle [F-(1,F- 27)=8.418, eta(2)(p)=.238,p=.007], extensor muscles [F-(1,F- 27)=17.802, eta(2)(p)=.397,p<.001] parameters in males and females. As a result, BBE could be considered a preferred exercise modality to reduce the risk of fall-related injuries caused by balance impairment and inadequate trunk strength, which are prevalent among individuals with intellectual disabilities (ID).