Physical fitness and performance of daily activities in persons with intellectual disabilities and visual impairment: towards improving conditions for participation

Being sufficiently physically fit and active is important for the quality of life, self-reliance and the degree of participation. However, sufficient exercise is not self-evident for persons with severe or profound intellectual disabilities and visual imparment. Therefore, it is important to measure and optimize the level of physical fitness of this group. The problem, however, is that measuring instruments used to measure physical fitness in the general population are often not suitable to use for persons with severe or profound intellectual disabilities and visual impairment. This dissertation shows that the physical fitness of this group is low, as well as their level of daily functioning. It was found that measuring muscle strength in persons with intellectual and visual impairment is feasible with an acceptable learning period. However, the adjusted Berg Balance Scale, was found to be invalid to measure the balance of persons with severe or profound intellectual disabilities and visual impairment or to predict fall risk. Conducting progressive resistance training to improve physical fitness turned out to be possible and feasible for this group with promising effects. The actual annual measurement of physical fitness levels of persons with severe or profound intellectual disabilities and visual impairment and the actual training of this group at an appropriate level is a major challenge for all involved with the support of this group. The role of environmental factors is essential so that improved physical fitness actually leads to improved functioning in daily life and increased participation