Proprioceptive Training Induced Adaptations of Static Balance Control: An RCT Study in Adults With Intellectual Disability

Background: Adults with intellectual disability (ID) experience injurious falls that may affect their quality of life. The present randomised control trial (RCT) study examined the efficacy of a 10-week proprioceptive training programme, on static balance performance, in adults with mild to moderate ID. Methods: Participants were voluntarily recruited from a day care centre and randomly assigned into the intervention (IG; n = 14; 36.4 ± 3.8 years; males/females = 8/6) and the control group (CG; n = 13; 37.6 ± 4.8 years; males/females = 7/6). The IG trained three times per week with the proprioceptive training programme, whereas both groups followed the regular adapted physical activity programme of the day care centre. Static balance was assessed before and after the intervention with three static balance tests [bipedal stance (60″), Tandem Romberg stance (30″) and single leg stance (15″)] performed on a force platform, whereas the Mini-BESTest was also used to assess aspects of static and dynamic balance in the field. Results: The IG significantly improved (p < 0.05) test scores of the Mini-BESTest and decreased the range and the root mean square of the centre of pressure displacement during the bipedal, Tandem Romberg and single leg stance, in contrast to the CG who showed no improvement. Conclusion: The specific proprioceptive training programme improved the static balance of adults with ID and this could have a positive, significant impact in their daily life, as it may reduce the incidence of falls and relative injuries.