Effects of a Progressive Adapted Physical Education Program on Muscular Strength and Endurance in Adolescents With Mild Intellectual Disability (PAPE-MID)

May 20, 2026 updated by: Burak Canpolat, Inonu University

Effects of a Progressive Adapted Physical Education Program on Muscular Strength and Endurance in Adolescents With Mild Intellectual Disability: A Randomized Controlled Trial

This randomized controlled trial investigated the effects of a 10-week progressive adapted physical education program on muscular strength and muscular endurance in adolescents with mild intellectual disability. Physical inactivity and reduced physical fitness are common among adolescents with intellectual disabilities and may negatively affect functional independence, health, and quality of life.

Participants were randomly assigned to either an intervention group or a control group. The intervention group participated in a structured adapted physical education program in addition to their regular school activities, while the control group continued their usual curriculum without additional exercise intervention. The program was implemented progressively over 10 weeks and included activities designed to improve upper-body strength, lower-body strength, core endurance, and overall muscular fitness.

Before and after the intervention period, participants completed physical fitness assessments evaluating muscular strength and endurance. The aim of this study was to determine whether a progressive adapted physical education program could improve physical fitness outcomes in adolescents with mild intellectual disability.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Adolescents with intellectual disability often demonstrate lower levels of physical fitness, muscular strength, and muscular endurance compared with their typically developing peers. These limitations may reduce participation in daily activities and negatively influence long-term health outcomes. Adapted physical education programs are considered important interventions for improving physical fitness and functional capacity in individuals with intellectual disabilities.

The purpose of this randomized controlled trial was to examine the effects of a progressive adapted physical education program on muscular strength and muscular endurance in adolescents with mild intellectual disability. Participants were randomly assigned to either an intervention group or a control group. The intervention group participated in a structured 10-week adapted physical education program in addition to regular school activities, whereas the control group continued their usual educational curriculum without additional exercise intervention.

The exercise program was progressively organized and included activities targeting upper-body strength, lower-body strength, trunk endurance, and general muscular fitness. Physical fitness assessments were conducted before and after the intervention period to evaluate changes in muscular strength and endurance parameters.

The findings of this study are expected to contribute to evidence-based adapted physical education practices for adolescents with intellectual disability and to support the development of effective school-based exercise interventions.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

46

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • Turkey (Türkiye)
    • Battalgazi
      • Malatya, Battalgazi, Turkey (Türkiye), 44280
        • Inonu University, Faculty of Sport Sciences, Physical Education and Sport on Disabilities

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Child
  • Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Adolescents diagnosed with mild intellectual disability
  • Participants enrolled in special education programs
  • Ability to participate in physical activity assessments and exercise sessions
  • Written informed consent obtained from parents or legal guardians

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Presence of orthopedic, neurological, or cardiovascular conditions preventing participation in exercise
  • Severe behavioral problems limiting participation in assessments or training sessions
  • Participation in another structured exercise program during the study period
  • Failure to complete baseline or post-intervention assessments

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Progressive Adapted Physical Education
A structured 10-week adapted physical education program designed to improve muscular strength and muscular endurance in adolescents with mild intellectual disability.
Behavioral: Progressive Adapted Physical Education Program
A structured 10-week progressive adapted physical education program designed to improve muscular strength and muscular endurance in adolescents with mild intellectual disability. The intervention included exercises targeting upper-body strength, lower-body strength, trunk endurance, and general muscular fitness in addition to regular school activities.
No Intervention: Usual Curriculum Control
Participants in the control group continued their usual school curriculum without additional exercise intervention.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Upper-Body Muscular Strength
Time Frame: Baseline and 10 weeks
Upper-body muscular strength will be assessed using the modified push-up test. The total number of correctly completed repetitions will be recorded as the outcome measure.
Baseline and 10 weeks
Lower-Body Muscular Strength
Time Frame: Baseline and 10 weeks
Lower-body muscular strength will be assessed using the standing long jump test. Jump distance will be measured in centimeters.
Baseline and 10 weeks
Muscular Endurance
Time Frame: Baseline and 10 weeks
Muscular endurance will be assessed using the sit-up test. The total number of correctly completed repetitions within 30 seconds will be recorded.
Baseline and 10 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Inonu University

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

January 5, 2026

Primary Completion (Actual)

March 16, 2026

Study Completion (Actual)

March 16, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

May 14, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

May 14, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

May 20, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

May 22, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

May 20, 2026

Last Verified

May 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • INU-APE-MID-2026
  • Inonu University Institutional (Other Identifier: Inonu University Institutional Ethics Committee Approval No: 2026/9730)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

IPD Plan Description

Individual participant data will not be publicly shared due to privacy and confidentiality considerations.

Study Data/Documents

  1. Individual Participant Data Set

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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