The effects of exercise interventions on balance performance in children and adolescents with intellectual disabilities a systematic review and network meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE

Intellectual disability is a common developmental disorder in childhood, and deficits in balance ability are particularly prominent in this population. Physical activity is an effective intervention for improving balance. However, the effects of various exercise interventions on balance ability in children and adolescents with intellectual disabilities have not been fully examined.

METHOD: We conducted a systematic review and network meta-analysis following the PRISMA-NMA guidelines. We searched PubMed, Scopus, VIP, Cochrane Library, CNKI, Wanfang, Web of Science, Embase, and CBM for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) examining exercise interventions for balance in children and adolescents with intellectual disabilities. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane ROB-2 tool.

RESULTS

A total of 3,540 records were identified, of which 22 RCTs met the inclusion criteria. The results showed that the Hopping and Jumping Training Programme (HJP) [MD = 16.60, 95% CI (13.18, 20.02)], Simplified Five-Step Boxing (SFSB) [MD = 2.09, 95% CI (1.43, 3.04)], and Balance Training (BT) [MD = 1.40, 95% CI (0.50, 2.30)] had larger effect sizes compared with control. However, the overall certainty of evidence was low to very low, warranting cautious interpretation.

CONCLUSION

Exercise interventions may have a beneficial effect on balance ability in children and adolescents with intellectual disabilities. However, due to the low to very low certainty of the evidence, these findings are hypothesis-generating rather than definitive, and strong clinical recommendations cannot be made.

SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/, identifier: CRD420251208290.