The role of rhythmic body percussion exercises on Enjoyment of Physical Activity and Executive Function in Children with Intellectual Disabilities

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to role of rhythmic body percussion exercises on enjoyment of physical activity and executive function in children with intellectual disabilities.

Methods: The present research was a quasi-experimental study conducted with a pretest-posttest design including both experimental and control groups. The statistical population comprised all female students aged 10 to 12 years with educable intellectual disabilities enrolled in exceptional elementary schools in Dezful, Iran, during the 2023-2024 academic year. From this population, 26 students were purposefully selected based on inclusion criteria and were randomly assigned to two groups of 13: an experimental group and a control group. The Moore et al. (2009) questionnaire was used to assess enjoyment of physical activity, and the Tower of London test was employed to evaluate executive function. All participants initially underwent a pretest. The experimental group's training program consisted of 6 weeks of three weekly sessions (totaling 18 sessions), each lasting 45 minutes, conducted in a gymnastics hall under the researcher's strict supervision and in compliance with all health protocols. During this period, the control group followed their regular daily routine. At the conclusion of the intervention, all participants underwent a posttest. Data were analyzed using analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) at a significance level of 0.05 with SPSS version 27.

Results: The findings revealed that the Body Percussion training program significantly improved executive functions (p < 0.01) and enhanced the level of enjoyment of physical activity (p < 0.01) in children with intellectual disabilities.

Conclusion: Based on the research findings, it can be concluded that Body Percussion training plays an effective role in improving enjoyment of physical activity and executive function in children with intellectual disabilities. Consequently, it can be utilized in sports interventions, training programs, and rehabilitation for these individuals.