SUAREZ-VILLADAT, BORJACORREDEIRA, RUI MANUELVEGA, MARIOVILLAGRA, ARIEL2025-01-152025-01-152023-01-03Borja Suarez-Villadat, Rui Manuel Corredeira, Mario L. Vega & Ariel Villagra (2023): Strength versus aerobic program: effects on body composition and health-related physical fitness levels of youths with Down syndrome, International Journal of Developmental Disabilities, DOI: 10.1080/20473869.2022.21626272047-3869 (print)2047-3877 (online)https://hdl.handle.net/10115/56737Aims: To determine the effect of a 16-week fitness program (strength vs. aerobic) on different indicators of body composition and components of health-related physical fitness in youths with Down syndrome. Methods and procedures outcomes: Fifty adolescents (19 girls and 31 boys; average age, 18.33 ± 1.42 years) with Down syndrome were recruited and randomized to two groups (strength group vs. aerobic group). Adolescents allocated in the aerobic group carried out a physical activity program three times a week for 16 weeks meanwhile adolescents allocated in the strength group performed a fitness program three times a week for 16 weeks. Results: The exercise group had significant improvements in all health-related physical fitness variables (p<.05) but not on body composition. Conclusions and implications: A sixteen week fitness program consisting of three sessions of 60 min is able to increase levels of health-related physical fitness but not on body composition in youths with Down syndrome. The aerobic program does not seem to show significant differences.en-USCardiorespiratory fitnessfatnessstrengthDown syndromeyouthsArticle10.1080/20473869.2022.2162627info:eu-repo/semantics/closedAccess