A short non-verbal IQ test predicts physical performance in athletes with intellectual disabilities in different sports disciplines

摘要

@@ Introduction The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between the degree of intellectual disability and level of sports performance for elite athletes in different sports disciplines. Earlier studies indicated that elite athletes with intellectual disabilities have significant lower fitness levels in cardio-respiratory endurance, speed of limb movement, explosive strength, abdominal muscular endurance, hand grip strength (Van de Vliet & al., 2006) and leg strengths (Frey, McCubbin, Hannigan-Downs, Kasser, & Skaggs, 1999) than athletes without intellectual disabilities. So far, no study looked at the association between the degree of intellectual disability and the level of physical performance in different sports disciplines.